by macgyver on Mon May 04, 2009 11:49 am
--forwarded message--
Difference between SARS and H1N1 Flu:
1. SARS is a new disease which surfaced in 2003, causing much panic because nothing was known of its nature.
H1N1 is still in a form of influenza except that it has a novel strain that comprises genetic elements of avian, pig and human influenza.
Interpretation: SARS was a mystery and it took time to decode what it was. As H1N1 flu is a type of influenza, scientists are more familiar with it and already have the drugs to combat it.
2. SARS is infectious about two weeks after it has struck a victim.
H1N1 is infectious 24hrs before any symptoms show in a victim.
Interpretation: Given that the signs of SARS infection are visible, quarantining a SARS patient would be effective. Tracing the people who have been in touch with the victim during the infectious period is also feasible. But an H1N1 flu victim could be transmitting the virus the day before he falls ill and could have been mingling with and infecting more people since the signs of infection are not visible.
3. SARS victims always display symptoms like fever and coughing.
H1N1 flu victims may not display any symptoms at all. One in 3 victims does not know that he or she is carrying the virus.
Interpretation: Temperature checks might not be able to screen for H1N1 flu the way they did for SARS. A SARS victim will always contract a fever, but there could be no sign of raised body temperature in a person who has contracted H1N1 flu.
4. SARS lasted a few months and died out.
H1N1 going past flu epidemics, will come in waves.
Interpretation: Fighting H1N1 flu will be a long-haul process. Even when the first wave dies down, there is no way of knowing when it will resurrect itself or how severe a second wave will be.
What Do You Need to Know About H1N1?
-A new strain of flu which was detected in US on April 2009.
-Comprised of two genes that are normally found in flu viruses of European and Asian pigs, as well as avian genes and human genes the reason it was initially called "Swine flu".
-Flu virus is not transmitted by eating pork or pork products.
-Symptoms are similar to those of regular human flu which include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting.
-An infected person can transmit the virus even before he shows any symptoms. One in 3 does not have symptoms at all. Because of this, an infected person can spread the virus without detection.
-An infected person should recover if treated within 48hours with antiviral drugs.
-The best way to contain the spread until it dies down is to see a doctor when symptoms show up and to practice good personal hygiene.
-Some prevention tips:
* Try to stay in good general health
* Get plenty of sleep
* Be physically active
* Manage your stress
* Drink plenty of fluids
* Eat nutritious food
* Avoid close contact with sick people
Is H1N1 virus contagious?
It was determined that this new H1N1 virus is contagious and is spreading from human to human. However, at this time, it is not known how easily the virus spreads between people.
How Does H1N1 Virus Spread?
Spread of this H1N1 virus is thought to be happening in the same way that seasonal flu spreads. Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing by people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.
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