Influenza A (H1N1) issues that arise

For several months the influenza A (H1N1) made ​​headlines in the news, on the one hand the alarmists who predict the same results as the Spanish flu of 1918 that left tens of millions dead, the other the optimists who think it is a relatively Benin virus and that there is much hype for nothing (it diverts attention from other concerns of the French). So I tried to take stock of this flu and after you make about my doubts. If you are already aware, skip to discussions and questions about the influenza A (H1N1) .

1) What you say about the influenza A (H1N1)

The history of influenza A (H1N1) :

The virus emerged in Mexico in March 2009 near a large industrial complex of pig.

Mode of transmission of influenza A (H1N1) :

These are the same as for seasonal flu: by particles suspended in the air after coughing, sneezing, breathing a little stronger or contact with projections from the hand to mouth, by hand contact or mouth. (Say "hello" from a distance)

Symptoms of influenza A (H1N1):

Again, they are similar to seasonal flu, fever, muscle and joint pain, cough, headache, runny nose.

Incubation period of influenza A (H1N1):

The incubation period of up to one week.

Treatment of influenza A (H1N1):

Antivirals (neuraminidase inhibitors) such as seasonal flu, although many people recover without any medication. This limits the duration of the disease and prevent exacerbations.

Duration of the flu:

Symptoms last about a week or 10 days, it varies with individuals.

Precautions for Influenza A (H1N1):

Firstly avoid contact with sick people.
Wash hands with soap or an alcohol-based solution.
Sick persons should wear a mask to avoid splashing to avoid infecting others.
Dispose of tissues in a covered bin.
If she does not wear a mask, the patient must avoid projecting the particles in the air, so cover your nose and mouth when coughing, sneezing, coughing etc ...
Generally, it is better to confine the infected person in a room in the house when possible and clean everything meticulously.

Which face mask to protect themselves? :

The surgical mask (anti-projections) for patients, it is recommended to wear at the first symptoms. (There is no reason if you have to put one if you are in contact with a patient.)

2) Thoughts and questions about influenza A (H1N1)

Why exactly do we as influenza A/H1N1?

Simply because it is a new unknown virus so far, so in principle no one is immune so everyone can get it, unlike seasonal flu, which is known and for which we have a vaccine with more or less efficiency depending on the year, but can mitigate their impact on the economy and health. In addition, seasonal flu when you catch the same time allows to self-immunize over the years despite its variants. This is also why everyone did not every year. In the case of influenza A (H1N1), we are dealing with a pandemic, ie it spans every continent and no one is immune as it can reach ten times more people than the seasonal flu. It is clear that the impact on the economy and health can be enormous.

What mortality rate for influenza A (H1N1)? :

Difficult to give numbers, I do not mean anything, because the numbers vary widely between countries as supported are different and we know the spread, the better the support, so the numbers will drop. It should however be aware that seasonal flu every year in France from 2000 to 4000 deaths per year and the mortality rate seems lower for influenza A (H1N1) compared with seasonal flu. Seasonal flu each year reached between 2 and 4 million French. The big question is how many people will be affected by influenza A (H1N1), I will not even start to tell you the numbers, I'm not a soothsayer, but it is not unrealistic to think that these figures can be met or exceeded.

That it is the vaccine for influenza A (H1N1)?

Information for the press conference on August 27, 2009 (source -pandemic grippale.gouv.fr )
- 94 million vaccines have been reserved by the government with four laboratories, they will be delivered in multi-dose vials.
- Vaccinations will be in vaccination centers (at least three per department)
Two injections will be needed per person
vaccination is not mandatory
The vaccination campaign is scheduled to begin mid-October for those at risk (not defined yet.)
The campaign will commence only after the authorization authorization (MA) made by the European Medicines Agency.

My thinking on this information:

The procedure for authorizing the placing on the market in its fast-track is 150 days (source wikipedia) or 5 months if my calculations are correct, pre-clinical trials must be at least 4 weeks. How in this case vaccinations could begin in mid-October while the clinical trials did not seem he started in all laboratories. The time will they be shortened especially in this case?

Will he have enough eggs?

At first glance, this is a question that may seem absurd, but the eggs must be fertilized, why they must be fertilized by a rooster (they are not eggs for consumption). The process is well established but it takes time: the virus is injected inside the egg, it spreads by living cells and then recovering the liquid to extract a purified virus which was treated to achieve the vaccine. This is not so simple, in the past some countries have already found in state lack of vaccines for seasonal influenza and in the case of A/H1N1 flu vaccine demand is much greater than for seasonal influenza .

And the vaccine for seasonal flu?

The companies will run at full throttle to produce vaccines for influenza A (H1N1) vaccine for seasonal flu will he be produced in sufficient quantities? The priority for the elderly is the vaccine for seasonal flu.

Influenza A (H1N1) and H5N1 avian influenza

H1N1 was detected in a turkey farm in Chile (source UN ), as you know bird flu primarily affects poultry, as would happen if the two viruses meet?

Must be vaccinated?

Vaccination is not compulsory, everyone still has at least two months to decide, because anyway, there will be people whose priority categories should be defined only in September, it is likely that the army and certain categories of officials and medical personnel will have priority for the rest, stay tuned.
Personally, I have not decided anything yet, as some rumors say that the laboratory would happen to the traditional method of making the vaccine with eggs to produce it from a modified molecule (TBC), by then I shall perhaps have had influenza A (H1N1) that I recall, although having a wide spread, has a relatively low morbidity, be optimistic. Nothing prevents us from taking natural anti-virals like Ravintsara to strengthen the body.

Feel free to leave your comments and additional information.