How real is the danger of influenza A / Mexican Flu?

Influenza A (H1N1) is a variant of the Influenza virus, the common virus of Seasonal influenza, which also appears in other mammals such as chickens and pigs.

In April of this year, the alarm went off because the virus had leapt from pigs to Humans.

In June 2009 the World Health Organization (WHO) ranked the virus at threat level six. This threat level does not define the severity of the disease caused by the virus, but its geographical extension, in other words the contagiousness is high.

The virus is much milder than seasonal influenza and its mortality is much lower. The danger is less serious than previously thought.

The danger and panic is induced by excessive coverage of the media and the live broadcasts of nearly every case of death.

Experts advise treating influenza like any other : drink enough, eat well, have good hygiene (washing hands before eating) and seeking medical care when symptoms of importance occur such as coughing up blood or difficulties in breathing.

The symptoms of influenza A in humans are similar to flu symptoms.
They include high fever (38-40 degrees), recurrent dry cough, sore throat, runny nose, headache, chills, eye pain, breathing problems, vomiting and diarrhea.

Risk groups are:

• Pregnant women
• Caretakers of children younger than 6 months
• People between the age of 6 months and 24 years old
• Chronic patients between 25 and 65 years of age / COPD, Hart and vessel disease, Diabetes Mellitus, Renal disease.
• Staff working in the public Health
• HIV positive patients

The vaccination of these risk groups against this Mexican Flu/Influenza A will take place in the end of October and beginning of November.