The Pandemic Alert Level
Why did WHO Raise It?
The pandemic alert level was just raised to Level 5 and expected to be raised to Level 6 soon. WHY? The h1n1 virus appears to be mild and few people have died. What were WHO's reasons for raising the pandemic levels?
If a flu pandemic has the potential to be catastrophic, there must be something more to this.
WHO, the World Health Organization
, must be considering information that the general public doesn't know, because, so far, the swine flu h1n1 virus just looks like another
seasonal flu
to the rest of us.
But the pandemic alert level WAS raised...
Raising the Pandemic Alert Level
History Repeats Itself
While the h1n1 swine flu has spread rapidly throughout the world (one of the criteria for being a pandemic), so far most people have recovered. That's good. However, we must not be lulled into apathy, because this is exactly what happened in the 1918 pandemic! The Spanish flu emerged in late spring, after the seasonal flu season was over—just like the Swine flu of 2009. That spring the Spanish flu was mild. Most people recovered. People thought it was over that spring, and that it was not a big deal. But, here is where the story changes. In the fall of that year, the Spanish flu returned. Over the summer months it had changed its genetic structure, and, this time, it was a much more virulent, deadly virus! It infected huge numbers of people, was quickly spread and many, many people died a horrible death. This is what the WHO (World Health Organization) is concerned will happen again! That is why the WHO has raised the pandemic alert level.
Similarities Between H1N1
and the Spanish Flu of 1918
There are a number of reasons that the current h1n1 Swine Flu concerns scientists.- Both arrived in late spring—after the usual seasonal flu season. Pandemic flu can rear its ugly head at any time of the year, not just flu season.
- Similar genetic makeup - Both flu viruses contained genetic elements of swine flu (The 1918 was an H1N1 virus also), human flu and avian flu. The current h1n1 virus has 6 swine gene elements, 1 human flu element and 1 avian flu element.
- Novelty - Both flu viruses were never seen before (another pandemic criterium). Because they were uncirculated among people, no one has/had immunity (no antibodies). There is no vaccine that will prevent this flu.
- Disappearance and Return - During the
1918 Spanish Flu pandemic
, it is believed that the virus circulated, with the seasonal flu, in the southern hemisphere during their flu season—and then returned to the northern hemisphere in the fall. It was then much more deadly!
Concerns
About the H1N1 Swine Flu Virus
So, even though the swine flu we saw emerge in April 2009 doesn't look like a full fledged pandemic flu at the moment, the potential for becoming a pandemic flu is very real! Flu viruses change their genetic characters very readily, and here are some of the very real possibilities for this virus during the next few months:
- Swine flu H1N1
could become resistant to flu medicines. Last flu season, in the northern hemisphere, the seasonal h1n1 flu became resistant to flu medications. Scientists worry that this will happen with Swine Flu, as well.- People (and pigs) can be co-infected with more than one virus at a time. There is concern that the virus will mix and match genes in people (or pigs) and develop more virulent (deadly) characteristics.
- This virus readily jumps from species to species. For example, a Mexican worker just infected pigs on a farm in Alberta, where he works. The ability to jump readily to another species increases the chances for changes to occur.
- The Swine Flu virus already is highly transmissible. It rapidly spreads from person to person.
- Avian Flu is still out there. The Bird Flu is still alive and well. It is still VERY DEADLY, and, if it combined with the Swine Flu, we could see a highly transmissible and very virulent flu virus—and the most devastating pandemic the world has ever seen!
As you can see, we are not out of the woods yet on the Swine Flu issue. There is still room for optimism, though. The Swine Flu, H1N1 A could simply modify, become milder, and dissipate. But, that may not happen. And, to make sure we are in the best position possible, the WHO altered the pandemic alert level to 5—and soon it may be level 6. Raising the
>pandemic phase
gives governments the go-ahead to implement their pandemic flu plans and get ready—just in case!
Didn't find what you were looking for? Try searching for it here:
Pandemic Alert Level 2 to Virus Information
Pandemic Alert Level 2 to Pandemic Flu and Survival Preparedness
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