The new H1N1 strain of the swine flu virus is ‘not a cause for alarm,’ President Obama said in a meeting Monday with the National Academy of Sciences.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, however, the number of victims of swine flu is on the rise.
As of Monday afternoon, 40 cases have been reported – two in Texas and 28 in New York City.
This strain of the flu virus has already killed 149 people in Mexico, according to the Wall Street Journal. There have been no deaths from the virus in the U.S.
The New York students diagnosed with swine flu were among about 100 who became sick in the last few days at St. Francis’ Preparatory School, said Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene commissioner.
Officials first suspected the students had swine flu when they were informed that some students had recently visited Mexico, where the outbreak is said to have begun.
Many known forms of flu exist, and the different varieties have the ability to exchange genes with one another.
The form of flu that originated in Mexico is a genetic mixture of viruses that have been seen in pigs, birds and humans, according to the CDC.
Containment is unlikely, CDC officials said, because the virus has been detected in multiple geographic regions, including people who have had no direct contact with swine.
The disease is called swine flu because the overall structure of the virus is the type that usually infects pigs, according to World Health Organization officials.
President Obama said the administration’s Department of Health and Human Services ‘has declared a public health emergency as a precautionary tool to ensure that we have the resources we need at our disposal to respond quickly and effectively.’
Obama said he is watching the situation closely and receiving updates from officials but American citizens need not worry.
‘This is one more example of why we cannot afford to let our nation fall behind,’ Obama said, citing the U.S. needs more commitment to scientific research. ‘And that is exactly what’s happening.’
Studies are still ongoing on how this particular swine flu is transmitted.
Flu is generally transmitted through the respiratory tract, so basic sanitation procedures are suggested.
Health researchers are currently working to establish whether the virus is spreading from person-to-person.
European Union Health Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou insisted Europeans be cautious about traveling to parts of the U.S. and Mexico because of the swine flu, Associated Press reported.
Vassiliou toned down earlier comments referring to all of North America.
‘I meant a travel advisory, not a travel ban, for travel to Mexico City and those states in the United States where we have outbreaks of swine flu,’ he said.
Recommendations to prevent infection by the virus consist of standard personal precautions including frequent washing of hands.
The public is also recommended to avoid touching their mouths, noses or eyes with their hands unless they’ve washed their hands recently.
Coughing into your hands and washing them right afterwards is advised as well.
All in all, it would seem that the suggested precautionary measures are not out of anyone’s reach.
The loss of life in Mexico is certainly a heartbreaking ordeal, but now that Americans are aware of the threat and on the lookout for symptoms, we can make sanitation a top priority for ourselves.
Given Houston’s close geographic proximity to Mexico, we need to keep ourselves safe, by getting vaccinations regularly and daily upkeep of hygiene.
It is important to remember that, although common, influenza is a potentially deadly disease. There is currently no known vaccine for swine flu.
Matthew Keever is a communication junior and may be reached at [email protected].
