Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Turn on any news station and you will hear about the H1N1 virus, or swine flu. The country has been in a frenzy about the virus. In Mexico, more than a thousand people are sick and nearly 150 are dead, according to CNN.com. Although the threat of swine flu is real and has the potential to be severe, KU students should not panic. Plenty of misconceptions are floating around out there, and no matter how many times people get the facts, someone who’s fallen prey to a Twitter rumor can still set off panic attacks. Here’s a concise run-down on H1N1, the strain of influenza that includes swine flu.
Swine flu is a respiratory illness with symptoms similar to regular flu. These symptoms include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and coughing. Experts are concerned about the swine flu because it is a new viral strand with no vaccine. In the U.S., 226 cases of swine flu have been confirmed (although you’ll see a different number by the time this column comes out) with one death in Texas. Two cases have been confirmed in Dickinson County. The sick couple has been recovering with no need for hospitalization.
Humans have been catching H1N1 for ages but have only recently been catching the strain for swine flu. Humans can spread the virus with a simple cough, sneeze or handshake. Consumption of pork does not cause swine flu. Cooking pork at 160°F would kill the swine flu, in addition to other bacteria and viruses, according to the CDC. Swine flu can spread from pig to person, person to pig, or person to person. As far as I know, there aren’t any hordes of infected pigs on the KU campus, so for now all we’ve got to worry about is each other.
People can receive a vaccination for the regular seasonal flu, which can be just as deadly as swine flu. So far in 2009, more than 13,000 people have died of complications from seasonal flu, according to CNN.com. In the U.S., the cases of swine flu have been mild to moderate.
The best way to prevent illness from the H1N1 virus is to wash hands regularly. Experts also advise that anyone feeling ill stay home in order to prevent the spread of the virus. According to the CDC, two antiviral drugs, oseltamivir and zanamivir, have been licensed in the U.S. for treatment of the swine flu.
The threat of the swine flu has the potential to become deadly in the U.S., and precautions should be taken. KU students, however, should also know the facts and be aware of the true risk of contracting the H1N1 virus. Your best bet? Don’t panic, wash your hands like your mother taught you, and stay away from any suspicious-looking pigs on campus.
— Brown is a Wichita sophomore in journalism and political science.
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