The 2009 H1N1
influenza virus (also known as
“swine flue”, due to its genetic
similarities with influenza
viruses normally occurring in
pigs) made its first appearance
in North America in April 2009
and then rapidly spread
worldwide, becoming the
predominant influenza virus in
circulation all over the world,
officially declared as the new
influenza pandemic virus by the
WHO in June 2009.
Since this
influenza virus subtype is
relatively new, most people are
not immune to it. This means
that the probably of falling ill
with influenza after exposure to
H1N1 virus is significant.
This
is the reason why
worldwide surveillance and
monitoring are paramount for the
early detection of H1N1
influenza outbreaks. According
to the last WHO report (5
February 2010), the 2009 H1N1
influenza virus continues to be
the main influenza virus
circulating worldwide. However
in the last few months it has
been observed a global overall
decline of influenza cases due
to this virus.
In North
Africa and in certain areas of
South and East Asia and of
Eastern Europe, pandemic
influenza transmission continues
to remain active, although
geographically localized, while
in other parts of the world –
except for sporadic or localized
cases – the H1N1 activity is
decreasing or remains low.
H1N1 virus Symptoms
Symptoms of
H1N1 influenza (or pandemic
influenza A) are not very
different from those of seasonal
flu and can include fever,
cough, sore throat, headache,
body aches, fatigue and
sometimes diarrhea and vomiting.
Although some cases of severe
illness and death have been
reported, most cases of H1N1
influenza are mild and resolve
on their own within 4-5 days.
To date most
cases have occurred in infants,
children and younger adults,
which therefore have been shown
the most susceptible to H1N1
virus infection.
Although H1N1
influenza symptoms are generally
mild, certain groups of patients
are particularly at risk of
developing serious illness or
respiratory complications. These
include children under 2 years
of age, old people above 65
years of age, pregnant women,
people affected by diabetes or
chronic cardio-respiratory
diseases and those with an
impaired immune system.
As a result,
these people
should take particular health
precautions when travelling
abroad, especially in those
countries where the risk of
contagion is still present. Of
course the most obvious
preventive measure is to
postpone the trip. However, when
this is not possible, these
patients should consider taking
antiviral medications with them
on their journey.
H1N1 virus Treatment*
The treatment
of H1N1 influenza in otherwise
healthy adults usually involves
rest and the use of traditional
anti-pyretic medications to
relieve fever, analgesics to
relieve body aches, and
anti-cough medications to reduce
cough. For patients who are at
risk of developing severe or
complicated illness (see above),
it is advisable to take specific
antiviral medications which can
be obtained with the
prescription of a doctor.
The main
preventive measures include
vaccination (for people at the
highest risk of contagion or
complications), as well as
general hygiene measures.
In this
respect it is important to
remember that the H1N1 influenza
virus spreads from person to
person mainly through coughs or
sneezes of people who are
infected, but also through
casual contact with objects
which have been contaminated by
nasal or buccal secretions of
infected people (e.g. towels,
handkerchiefs, glasses).
Therefore the
most important and effective
preventive hygiene measures
include: staying at home when
sick, avoiding close contact
with sick people, washing one’s
hands after coughing or sneezing
(with or without using a
handkerchief), throwing away the
handkerchief after using it and
avoiding using the same towels
or drinking from the same glass
as an infected person. Finally,
it is important to remember that
getting sufficient international
health insurance coverage is
always a fundamental safety
measure.
International Health Cover