How far is H1N1 Influenza away from us?
Posted on October 29, 2009
Filed Under H1N1 Prevention | Leave a Comment
Moderator: netizens, everyone! We have today invited the Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Cao Zhi, deputy director of the new physician, today we talk about around the world are panic Influenza H1N1 influenza (swine flu) topic , as well as our Chinese Influenza A H1N1 influenza around what had been done.
Cao Zhi New: netizens, everyone!
Moderator: First of all would like to ask Dr. Cao explained to us what Influenza A H1N1 influenza What is this?
Cao Zhi New: This question sounds very simple, three words, “Influenza A H1N1 influenza”; two words, “pig” and “flu”, to be more accurate answer is somewhat complicated.
Let me first explain what is “flu”, influenza is an infectious disease pathogen is influenza viruses. Influenza viruses are divided into three types, which led to the human influenza A viruses were the main types of influenza.
Swine influenza: Pig Why become a “suspect”?
The incidence of influenza from its overall score on the law of two types: one type is called seasonal influenza, that is, the high annual flu season, such as winter and spring have emerged, such seasonal influenza, although a certain infectious and pathogenicity, But the crowd of seasonal influenza viruses usually have some immunity, so it will not appear pandemic.
But another scenario is that a sudden flu virus mutates, it will generate a new strain, people are likely to no immunity to this virus is widespread, and if this variation has a strong pathogenic virus, the ability to enable patients to become severe influenza, and the virus can spread among people with these characteristics of the virus can cause a short time large numbers of people sick, not only confined to one country, or even turn into a plague sweeping through the world, this happens on the called influenza pandemic.
Let today’s discussion of influenza refers to the latter case, because the world is facing a major influenza pandemic threat, the culprit is the recent emergence in North America of swine H1N1-type influenza viruses.
We speak of “flu”, why sometimes referred to “Influenza A H1N1 flu”, “bird flu”, which, what is the relationship between three concepts? Make it clear that it will lead to another concept “zoonotic disease “refers to human and animal pathogens due to infection of the same got the same disease, but people had the disease and the animal was not associated with this disease are not mutually exclusive, the animals got sick after will be transmitted to humans, causing the same disease This disease is called “zoonotic disease.” Influenza is a typical zoonotic disease, human, pig, poultry can be suffering from influenza, under normal circumstances Influenza H1N1 influenza and avian influenza is not transmitted to humans, but if the virus mutates, people can also be cited due to infection ” Pig “or” bird “flu virus become ill. This time in Mexico and the United States the disease occurs, that is, a typical strain of influenza A H1N1 influenza virus occurred above a certain degree of variation, which is why we say this is the “Influenza A H1N1 influenza” reasons.
I think that the exact interpretation of the concept of up, then now we should extend this Influenza A H1N1 influenza virus, known as “a new human influenza virus” is more appropriate.
Moderator: What are the symptoms manifested by persons is to be infected?
Cao Zhi, the new: It should be said that the current trouble in Mexico and the United States of ferocious of Influenza H1N1 influenza virus caused human influenza, the symptoms of influenza, and we have previously seen is not much difference between, on the whole there are three major groups symptoms: the first one prominent The problem is fever, which is often the first symptom, usually burn more than 38 degrees, and even higher. The second large group of symptoms are runny nose, sore throat, stuffy nose and other upper respiratory symptoms, some people are vomiting, diarrhea, such as gastrointestinal symptoms, and body fatigue, aches and so on. Syndrome is the third serious cough, sputum, difficulty breathing and other symptoms of lower respiratory tract, suggesting that flu patients were severe cases of pneumonia or respiratory failure have occurred, but the reason why influenza patients will be the case of death, are triggered after pneumonia caused by respiratory failure.
In fact the majority of influenza patients will not be a serious condition, which is just what we call the third syndrome, most patients usually two types of symptoms, fever and general flu-like symptoms.
Moderator: We have a lot of netizens are concerned that they will not be the last of which a small part of the third category of people, please tell us about the channels through which they are usually spread?
Cao Zhi New: you asked this question very well, this relates to the incidence of infectious diseases in general our understanding of the law. Influenza is an infectious disease, it will not exceed beyond the general law of infectious diseases. An infectious disease can get together, there must be links in the incidence of three basic elements: first, the source of infection, the source of infection is actually carriers of pathogens and discharges. For the Influenza A H1N1 influenza, the source of infection there are two types, one is with swine influenza viruses, the second is that the patients infected with influenza virus. Secondly, the mode of transmission, that is the source of infection in some way transmitted to another person who is not infected. For the purposes of main mode of transmission of influenza is close contact between people, including two such as Let’s face close-up words, if I speak a little louder voice, Tuomohengfei, I would if a patient, you would be very dangerous. Close contact will be infected daily. Also, if I saliva of influenza virus, when I spoke saliva dropped the coffee table, and you touch the table, through such a relatively indirect way might transmit influenza. Third, the susceptible population, that is, what kind of person would get this epidemic is very unfortunate that for the case of influenza, especially now that the emerging Influenza A H1N1 influenza is concerned we are all susceptible.
Moderator: Actually, I have also heard, especially young people, young adults were very good immune system, during the influenza epidemic H1N1 influenza Instead, susceptible groups, which is why?
Cao Zhi New: This is a very complex issue, in recent years, outbreaks of bird flu among people, usually young people ill, the elderly are rare, this is quite different from ordinary seasonal flu. The Influenza A H1N1 flu there are two unusual, and one not in the flu season there, second, the virus mainly attacks young people, these two characteristics is precisely prompted this not the same as seasonal influenza outbreaks, and is likely to be a potential pandemic virus. I think that, due to a number of complex reasons, although mainly among young people infected, but if it is really an influenza pandemic, I’m afraid for the elderly and children to be more susceptible, and serious condition.
Moderator: how do you think Influenza H1N1 influenza death rate high or low?
Cao Zhi New: Because of the reported deaths were in Mexico, according to the present the limited clues, Mexico reported in patients with confirmed influenza A H1N1 influenza mortality rate is about 26%, the figure itself is a relatively high case-fatality rate of. SARS case fatality rate is about 17%, while through the effective control, post-SARS case fatality rate dropped to below 10%. Therefore, if we look at such a figure may feel panic.
Moderator: So the public face of Influenza A H1N1 influenza epidemic, when she should be what kind of mentality?
First, in terms of ideology attention. I think that even if we are not professional medical personnel, but also fully aware of the current influenza H1N1 influenza epidemic, because the current World Health Organization Influenza A H1N1 influenza outbreak has already raised to the fourth grade level, meaning that there have been a positive person between the epidemic and the spread of influenza patients that is has become a real source of infection has. Our role and general public, opportunities for contact with the pigs less opportunities for contact with people, much more, so once someone has to become a potential source of infection, the threat to us will be significantly increased, so we should pay close attention now outbreaks.
Second, no cause for alarm. Panic is not only useless but also harmful. A scientific attitude should calm face. But also in the government level, in response to an influenza pandemic, has done a lot of work.
Moderator: Our Government is now in this respect what was being done to protect our citizens?
Cao Zhi New: First of all, influenza is the world’s only one in the global surveillance system established within the respiratory system diseases, our country is the world’s monitoring system within the framework of a very important part. Let’s countries have now established a fairly good influenza surveillance, control, treatment system, which is very important. The system efficiency is very high, such as myself, who has participated in the domestic on-site treatment of bird flu, according to my work experience, if the patient from the clinician may suspect bird flu patients began to receive a preliminary report confirmed , the time interval in our Chinese how long? generally not more than 24 hours, absolutely no more than 48 hours, we will be able to diagnosis the patient. It should be said Let’s countries have established an effective surveillance for influenza, diagnosis and treatment system.
What is the current work to be done? In our country level, is on this system has been established to be an appropriate adjustment can be more effective, more targeted to deal with influenza A H1N1 influenza on it. In fact, I think we may have also learned through the media, and now the country has begun a positive action to deal with possible outbreaks.
Moderator: As you treat the disease itself is a doctor, and you also may be sick of the crowds, you will be how to protect yourself, your family?
Cao Zhi New: Medical workers are at high risk of influenza. Ideologically, I told everyone the same, first, a high degree of attention, and the second, there is no need to panic. Why is there no need to panic? I think the first is fear of no use, it is now, “people do not find Shier, Shier find someone,” which come to you, you are afraid it is doing? First of all influenza is a disease, but it to a considerable extent has been our understanding, so I believe that rely on effective prevention and control measures and existing will be able to control the treatment of this disease, I personally do not panic.
Speaking to protect themselves is still the same to do well based on personal hygiene and wash their hands, if necessary, with masks and so on.
Moderator: You as a direct diagnosis and treatment of the patient’s doctor, even if we say let’s countries have emerged in suspected cases, the doctor what the examination steps?
Cao Zhi New: If going to the hospital patients with fever fever clinic to clinic, not to the general out-patient treatment. To the fever clinic, the doctor will give you to do a preliminary check to determine you are not likely to suffer from highly pathogenic influenza. After an initial investigation after a suspected case of patients, will be treated in isolation, while hospitals and disease control departments will trace his close contacts to conduct medical follow-up; if after a preliminary investigation, regardless of the patient suffering from highly pathogenic influenza, will directly give him some appropriate medication. Is probably such a treatment process.
Moderator: If you feel sick, it should be how to do?
Cao Zhi New: First of all have to go find a doctor, but do not rush to a major hospital to see the doctor, because the human person and close contact is an important way to spread influenza, SARS, when we have eaten a lot of loss, and the hospital became a spread of disease sites, so now with the public proposals, there are symptoms, or to find a doctor, but do not “bunches.”
If you have symptoms, especially the flu-like symptoms, such as sore throat, runny nose, cough, combined with a relatively high temperature, such incidents as soon as possible treatment. If the doctor agree that you are home, and do not need to be hospitalized for observation have to do is, in accordance with doctor’s orders to take medicine, In addition, with the people around to maintain a certain distance from their own pay more attention to personal hygiene, washing hands frequently, it is necessary Dai on a mask when coughing or sneezing Wushang mouth.
Moderator: What drugs can present options?
Cao Zhi New: an ordinary cold, or the general dissemination of seasonal influenza cases at this time to eat as long as the common cold medicine can be had, for example Banlangen, fever medicine, etc.. But if it is highly pathogenic influenza patients, such as influenza A H1N1 influenza patients, this time on the need to treat the effects of influenza drugs, the effects of drugs I believe everyone is unfamiliar, and its chemical name is called oseltamivir, as long as after the onset of effects of drugs taken within 48 hours, they usually quickly reduce the patient’s symptoms.
Moderator: There are Sohu User issues raised here to ask Dr. Cao. A net friend asked: When you think of avian flu can not eat chicken, and now we can not eat pork?
Cao Zhi New: Mexico must not eat pork, the United States in principle, does not eat pork, but now even let’s eat pork and the United States, Mexico is also ate pork Eventually, because the state has promulgated a policy to stop imports of live pigs from the United States and Mexico, and pork products; but let’s domestic pork in the current monitoring shows that it is safe. In addition, pork, even with the influenza virus, as long as after full processing, cooked, the virus will be killed, so in the current stage, the consumption of pork should be safe.
Moderator: pork in this respect similar to other mammals, such as beef, mutton what is it?
Cao Zhi New: no problem with beef and lamb, is safe.
User: I am a taxi driver, we often go to the airport, often going to pull around the living, we are such a person may wear a face mask is not particularly appropriate as to how to protect yourself, you have any suggestions?
Cao Zhi New: contact surface is particularly broad person, such as taxi drivers, shop, influenza prevention and control of the above is indeed a very important part. What should you do? I think, for as the taxi drivers, but also including our medical staff, and even includes you, these media practitioners, come into contact with many different people to do is: first, a full understanding of influenza-related knowledge, for instance, today we are doing this program, I think that is doing the job. Second, we will provide timely and dynamic through the authority of the channels to get the latest information on the epidemic, this is very important. What is the authority of the channels? Is a government department, for example, the Ministry of Health Web site information, such as national disease prevention and control department released information; also included large-scale, responsible media, such as Sohu website. Third, once in our country, and even appeared in the Beijing area suspected cases of influenza A H1N1 influenza or confirmed cases of Influenza A H1N1 influenza, and I think our health authorities will simultaneously publish guidelines for the prevention and control of the public, we have to do is in strict accordance with the guidelines required to act on it.
Moderator: Due to time constraints, we went to the interview here. Thank you, Dr. Cao.
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