H1N1 influenza four major suspense
Posted on May 5, 2009
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It seems overnight, Influenza A H1N1 influenza will die to bring North America, will bring the world of terror. Influenza A H1N1 influenza really did like the SARS swept across the world do? This new type of influenza, how many suspense, crack need for human beings?
Interviews with experts: Febrile Diseases, Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Research Institute, doctoral tutor, the Chinese Society of Infectious Diseases Branch of Chinese Medicine, chairman of Professor Yang Jin.
Mystery 1: The influenza virus variation of what happened?
Now WHO has named this new strain of influenza, “Influenza A H1N1 influenza virus”, why not call it that?
1, A-type influenza attack on the strongest
Influenza virus broadly divided into A, B, C three types. One, A-type (ie, alpha) attack the strongest, but also easy to mutation, resulting in an outbreak, or pandemic.
That “H1N1″ then what is it?
Influenza virus looks like a torpedo: a sphere surmounted many Xiaogun. That ball is a layer of lipid envelope, it is like a coat, wrapped the virus genetic material. (See figure above)
There are two Xiaogun inserted in the membrane, there is a relatively large number of columns that looks like something called hemagglutinin (HA) protein; the number of small, looks like another kind of mushroom called neural acid enzyme (abbreviated NA) proteins.
Influenza A virus is mainly hemagglutinin and neuraminidase mutation. Virologist to be encoded with different numbers, such as the H1, H2, N1, N2 and so on. One can have one or two or more mutation, the expert based on these numbers to the influenza virus classification.
The detection of new influenza virus “H1N1 subtype” in.
2, a new strain of hybrid
Why is this outbreak of influenza viruses makes it a terrorist? Because scientists in Mexico, in vivo in patients with isolated strain of the virus, is a kind of new virus, influenza virus hybrid characteristics (2009/H1N1).
(1) The variation of the virus easily
Viral replication itself will be random error, if the error has been retained to the emergence of mutations. DNA replication have a proofreading mechanism to correct the error, but RNA replication is no such mechanism, so the process of RNA in the replication errors will be maintained.
The influenza virus in the genetic material is RNA, so vulnerable to mutations.
(2) out of the new strain of hybrid
If there are two different types of influenza viruses, while the invasion into the same cell, their RNA replication out of fragments can be assembled into a new virus to the same, so that the virus is a hybrid produced offspring. Scientists found “2009/H1N1″ envelope on new virus hemagglutinin HA and neuraminidase NA, matrix protein M2 from the swine flu virus, while the core from the human influenza virus and avian influenza virus gene fragments, so can cause the spread between people. “2009/H1N1″ How about? Is not yet known!
Mystery 2: The new virus will not cause a pandemic in the world?
Occurred in the 1918 “Spanish flu”, had led to the world’s 20 million ~ 40 million deaths, the death toll far exceeds the First World War. The first appeared in North America, a new flu outbreak would lead to “Spanish flu” like human influenza pandemic?
U.S. Centers for Disease and Prevention experts say the epidemic has emerged in many districts if, but large areas are more difficult to halt its spread. But this outbreak of “Influenza A H1N1″ flu virus is now spreading very broad at this stage can not be effectively controlled.
Why not be the start under control?
1, a new virus epidemic of environmental
Many people vaccinated against influenza virus vaccine, influenza peak period has passed, but an outbreak of a new influenza outbreak. This shows that the ordinary flu vaccine for this new type of influenza virus effect of the lack of resistance.
Person’s immune system has memory, and infected with the virus have some immunity, but the new strain is a hybrid of new varieties, until no one has been infected, so there is no one on their own any immunity, so that for the AIDS epidemic, to provide the environment.
2, infected with a contagious incubation period
A passenger on the 1st of Mexico arrived in Hong Kong in the evening fever symptoms, treatment after being diagnosed as suffering from a “Influenza A H1N1″ flu. The patient transfer in Shanghai, China Eastern Airlines plane in testing, without any symptoms, body temperature was only then that more than 36 ℃, why Hong Kong has a fever? Because he is in Shanghai, its incubation period of disease in.
People are infected with the virus, the body’s immune system will immediately react with the virus war, hoping their uniforms, this time with the human immunodeficiency virus in a relatively balanced state, people will not be any symptoms of virus infection, it has been called as “latency.”
As the cold of infection when the pathogen is different from the length of its incubation period is also different. Influenza A H1N1’s incubation period is usually about 1-7 days, compared with influenza, avian flu incubation period a little longer.
Viruses are most infectious during the incubation period, because the early onset of the virus in nasal secretions of a high level of exclusion.
3, carriers of the virus run around everywhere
There is also a carriers of the virus, such a person is not ill, but can be carried everywhere, this is the hardest to control, when he and a susceptible contact, it might be transmitted to this person.
Such carriers of the virus is “latent infection” and that their immunity is strong enough, when the virus during the incubation period uniforms, and people knew it not self-like illness, and such person’s immunity to the virus of the operations, resulting in memory, produced antibodies against this virus, but he is contagious.
Who become infected with influenza A H1N1 influenza virus, there will be contagious, the infection within 2 ~ 3 days most contagious, so patients with latent infection and the incubation period, as also the main source of infection.
In the U.S., people infected with new viruses so far only a slight case of influenza A H1N1 influenza virus which is likely to God without our noticing them to come to the reasons for the spread, but also very difficult to control, can not grasp the reasons for channel transmission of the virus.
Therefore, other experts agree that the U.S. experts point: at this stage, impossible to control this new strain of the H1N1 influenza virus, because it easily transmissible among humans, and has appeared in several different locations.
Mystery 3: The effective treatment for that?
1, symptoms and flu are similar:
Influenza virus with the influenza virus, patients or other persons with a sneeze or cough, excreted through respiratory droplets spread, invasive ciliated columnar respiratory mucosa epithelial cells, causing epithelial cell degeneration, necrosis, shedding, mucosal congestion and edema.
Cause the patient high fever, aching muscles, fatigue, weakness, loss of appetite. Children prone to convulsions, if there is no complications, about one week can be recovered.
The H1N1 flu has mainly manifested in patients with gastrointestinal symptoms, diarrhea, vomiting, high fever, conjunctivitis (red eye) and other symptoms.
2, young adults easily caught
The Associated Press reported that after the majority of people are susceptible to influenza, the elderly and children, and this time the main attack on the crowd of influenza in young adults. The Mexican Government has said, confirmed “H1N1″ flu most of the dead were under 25 years of age to 45 years old.
The reason may be the child attention to vaccination; old viral infection a chance to experience the body has more antibody-related; there are important reasons, may be “immune injury” relevant.
A strong immunity to young adults have encountered have not seen such a heavy “H1N1″ influenza viruses, produced too strong an immune response, the aggressive to attack virus-infected cells of the body, causing tissue damage, causing a very heavy inflammation and significant organ failure, which led to deaths.
3, do not ignore the symptoms of a cold
All of the viruses, in addition to respiratory virus in addition to those enteric viruses (hand, foot and mouth disease caused by a virus, etc.), measles virus, will be the first invasion of the respiratory tract, causing a “cold” and other symptoms, so be sure not to overlook a “cold” symptoms of to prevent delays in treatment, leading to complications.
After the child has been infected, easily lead to meningitis, because the acquired immune system, infants and young children not yet been established, while the innate immunity of NK killer cells, etc., but also through the cerebral blood barrier can not reach the brain, for protection.
4, there is no effective cure for
Influenza A H1N1 influenza virus is still a lack of corresponding vaccines for prevention. Clinical observation of such a person infected with influenza A H1N1 influenza virus can be achieved through “Tamiflu” and “Relenza” and other antiviral drugs for treatment, but only after the onset of the disease early and effective, they must be early discovery, early treatment! first 48 hours of onset is the best treatment period!
5, quickly improve their own immunity
1) self-immunity: Because the medicine is no good way to deal with this new virus, we can only rely on our own immunity, therefore, must be through “adequate sleep, hard exercise, reduce stress, adequate nutrition,” and so on measures to maintain and improve their own immunity.
2) Keep away from sources of infection: to develop good personal hygiene, avoid contact with flu-like symptoms (fever, cough, runny nose, etc.) or pneumonia and other respiratory patients; frequent hand-washing with soap and water; avoid contact with pigs or go to a pig place; avoid visiting crowded places, keep resting place of the air flow of life; with tissue paper when coughing or sneezing, cover mouth and nose, and then thrown into the trash tissue.
3) To timely medical assistance: If outside the influenza-like symptoms (fever, cough, runny nose, etc.), immediately seek medical treatment (medical treatment should be wearing a mask), to the local public health agencies and the inspection and quarantine departments instructions.
4) Herbal Protection: Banlangen is an important traditional Chinese medicine anti-virus, anti-inflammatory medicine, one of inhibition of influenza virus reproduction, copying role. But whether to Combat Influenza H1N1 influenza virus, is currently uncertain. Drug prevention in the absence of effects circumstances, Banlangen may have a certain effect of new prevention and treatment of influenza.
If there is an outbreak, it is best to open in Chinese medicine practitioners under the guidance of some anti-virus, build up good body immunity soups to reduce the possibility of infection.
Mystery 4: too late to develop a vaccine do?
A U.S. biopharmaceutical company in an interview with Xinhua, said that a vaccine against the virus samples are expected in 4 weeks developed.
Influenza virus mutates very fast, while the vaccine and circulating virus match between the vaccine for the ability to provide adequate protection is very important. Currently, WHO recommends the production of seasonal influenza vaccine does not include this new influenza viruses. The current seasonal influenza vaccine for the United States and Mexico are taking place in swine influenza virus infection provide cross-protection is unclear. Experts believe that access to the standard strains, China may be timely to start the vaccine research and development. The Government and the public is important to note is that the “carrot and then quickly have to wash mud.” 70s of last century, the United States have occurred in swine influenza viruses infect humans and cause deaths in the incident. The U.S. government organizational strength to develop a vaccine in a very short period of time, and Pu species in a crowd. Subsequently, vaccination of swine influenza vaccine in a small number of people who appear Guillain – Barre syndrome symptoms. These people then would the U.S. government to court, the results against the Government. Therefore, the first vaccine developed to ensure safe and effective. Second, in determining the vaccination strategy, covering the crowd that even the cautious.
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