Update on the Swine Flu (H1N1) - The first 21st Century Flu Pandemic

[Guest guest]

Update on the Swine Flu (H1N1) - The first 21st Century Flu Pandemic

_http://www.thewolfeclinic.com/note/2009/June_17/swine_flu_update.html_

(http://www.thewolfeclinic.com/note/2009/June_17/swine_flu_update.html)

 

 

The H1N1 Swine Flu is now officially a pandemic. What does this all mean?

You may have heard the word epidemic used before, which means the disease,

is localized or contained to a specific area such as a country or

continent. A Pandemic, on the other hand, means that the disease has spread all

around the world. In the 20th century there were 3 Pandemics: in 1918, 1957 and

1968. All 3 are informally identified by their presumed sites of origin as

the Spanish, Asian and Hong Kong influenza, respectively. They are known to

represent 3 different antigenic subtypes of the influenza A virus: H1N1,

H2N2 and H3N2.

The First Flu Pandemic in the 21st century is referring to the H1N1 virus

which is the first Swine Pandemic since the H2N2 Swine flu of 1957. Note,

this Pandemic is the same subtype as the Spanish flu of 1918, which killed

more people than all the people killed during the Great War of 1914-1918.

So, how can flu virus become so dangerous? First thing you have to

understand is that a virus is an organism that is constantly changing or

mutating.

A virus that may not cause disease in humans one year can mutate and a

year later it could cause mild flu symptoms or become deadly. Major influenza

epidemics all differ from one another and show no predictable periodicity

or patterns.

This is what has occurred in the H1N1 Flu virus, which reportedly began in

Mexico in April of this year and quickly spread to Canada, the United

States, Europe and elsewhere. We know that this particular strain of the swine

flu virus (H1N1) had mutated because there was no history of this

particular virus causing illness or death in humans before. Because researchers

had

never seen this strain before they were caught off guard and had no vaccine

to treat it.

The World Health Organization (WHO) told its member countries on Thursday

that it was declaring a flu pandemic, the first in over 40 years. In a

statement sent to member countries, the WHO after holding an emergency meeting

with its experts, said it had decided to elevate the pandemic warning level

from phase 5 to 6, its highest alert. This decision is confirmation that a

new swine flu virus is quickly circling the globe and has them worried.

**At this early stage, the pandemic can be characterized globally as being

moderate in severity,** WHO said in the statement. They added that

infections from the new H1N1 swine flu virus have climbed in North America,

Europe, Australia, South America and elsewhere.

The last pandemic, the Hong Kong flu of 1968, killed about one million

people. Common flu kills about 250,000 to 400,000 people each year. This

time, the WHO has stressed that most H1N1 flu cases are mild and require no

treatment.

That begs the question. **If it is so benign, then why raise the level?**

Technically, those levels are not just an exercise in semantics. There is a

clear definition of the terms which is central to the World Health

Organization’s six-level staging system for declaring a pandemic. The levels

inform countries when and how to set their control efforts in motion. One would

assume that the highest level means taking the most critical of

precautions.

We need to read between the lines of their public press releases and look

to other experts for more information. It is obvious that the key concern

is to watch how the virus acts in the southern hemisphere during the winter

season there. This is far more important than its behavior in the

northern hemisphere during the summer. The swine virus is far more likely to

spread through the southern population during their winter and, as it does so,

the more likely it is to mutate, possibly into a new, more virulent variety.

**I think the real hazard, and the thing we need to prepare for, is what

happens in the fall, when conditions that are more suitable to the spread of

influenza gradually emerge,** said Dr. James Scott, a germ-movement

expert at the University of Toronto. Interestingly, this swine flu is of the

same basic type (H1N1) as the virus that caused the 1918 pandemic, the world*s

worst outbreak of flu which killed up to 100 million people across the

globe.

**The working hypothesis now is that this pandemic will follow the 1918

(pattern),** said Dr. Ethan Rubinstein, professor of infectious diseases at

the University of Manitoba. The 1918 pandemic started with a mild wave of

flu in spring and summer. It resurfaced in the fall and struck hard in

November of 1918.

Another interesting point is that in nearly all areas with prolonged

outbreaks, the majority of cases have occurred in people under 25. In addition,

approximately half of the people who have died from this strain of flu were

young and healthy; a group who are not usually susceptible to flu. It

seems that the older you are, the less likely you are to be susceptible to this

particular flu.

Sometimes we need to look at history in addition to what is happening now.

In other words, **what is old can be new ** . Dr Alan Hay, director of the

World Influenza Centre in London, had this to say about the 1918 flu

pandemic:

** That basic strain circulated round the world for another four decades

until 1957 when it was replaced by a new type, known as H2N2, which was

responsible for the Asian flu epidemic of that year.** This means that people

who were born before 1957 may well be carrying an immune defense to an old

virus that is a descendant of the 1918 flu strain. This is giving them

protection against the current swine flu; hence, the relatively strong response

of those over 60 to the recent pandemic.

There are natural preventative measures available as well as natural

immune stimulants that can be used to make sure you don*t become ill. The flu

is

neither a new phenomena nor just one of modern times. It has been around

since man first gathered in groups. Symptoms of flu include fever, muscle

and joint pain, cough, sore throat, eye pain, shortness of breath and extreme

fatigue.

To remain healthy and fight such viruses, a strong and vital immune system

is the key. Individuals should be proactive and focus on maintaining good

health by giving their body what it needs; healthy water, clean air, good

food, proper supplementation, moderate exercise and sufficient rest. If you

follow these simple rules you can expect to avoid the first Pandemic of the

21st century. When you take care of yourself it is hard to catch most

viruses as your body*s natural defenses are very capable of fighting them off.

Some of the simple common sense preventative measures we can take are:

* Maintain a healthy lifestyle and remember stress intensifies flu

symptoms.

* Wash your hands frequently and keep them away from your nose and

eyes. If you are caring for someone with the flu, PLEASE WASH YOUR HANDS

every time you touch them. This will protect you from being infected. Use

disposable tissues as opposed to cloth handkerchiefs. Alcohol-based hand

cleaners are also effective. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.

* Try to avoid close contact with sick people. As well, avoid crowds

and gatherings.

* Avoid prolonged exposure to artificial light since this puts the

body under great stress.

* Exercise regularly.

* Use Oil of Bandits - an essential oil that is highly antiviral.

* Omega-3 Oils - These Oils have long been known for their ability

to protect us from viral, bacteria and fungal infection.

* Take plenty of Vitamin D. Studies have shown vitamin D can

reduce the occurrence of colds and flu by up to 70 per cent.

* If possible, the regular use of an infrared sauna or mat is

recommended. (Viruses and bacteria cannot tolerate an Infrared Fever.)

* Keep your immune system strong and healthy. (Read our flu

newsletter and other articles.)

If you are already infected:

* At the first sign of illness, slow down immediately and rest to

prevent the illness from taking hold. It is better to stop activity in the

short term rather than having your activity stop you. Take an Infrared Fever

sweat if possible. (Viruses and bacteria cannot tolerate an Infrared

Fever.) If that is not available to you, take a long, hot bath, towel-dry and

go

to bed for a deep rest.

* Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.

Use disposable tissues as opposed to cloth handkerchiefs. Alcohol-based

hand cleaners are also effective. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use

it.

* Don’t go to work or school if you are sick.

* Eat very lightly at the first sign of feeling badly in a

non-specific way; it is especially useful to cut back to only fruits and

vegetables.

Follow your body’s inclination. If you are hungry, eat more and if not

hungry, eat less.

* Chicken soup does help the symptoms. Chicken contains a natural

amino acid called cysteine. Cysteine can thin the mucus in the lungs and make

it less sticky so you can expel it more easily.

* Rest. It is important to rest and “take it easy†throughout the

duration of the illness. The time you remain sick may be longer if you do

not allow yourself to recuperate and recover completely. If you exercise

regularly, you needn’t stop. You should, however, definitely reduce the

intensity until you feel better.

* Drink plenty of fluids, preferably chemical free, clean,

restructured and alkalizing water.

* Avoid milk products and refined sugars.

* Vitamin D, C and A are also helpful.

* Use Oil of Bandits - an essential oil that is highly antiviral.

* Garlic - one of the safest and most versatile herbs, a universal

tonic, a natural germicide. Garlic is an immune system booster; it purges

the liver and aids digestion.

* Omega-3 Oils - These Oils have long been known for their ability

to protect us from viral, bacteria and fungal infection.

* Take Oil of Oregano

* Far Infrared heat creates a false fever which attacks infections.

If the patient already has a fever of 103-104 an infra red sauna is not

required.

If you need assistance, the Wolfe Clinic*s Natural Health Practitioners

and knowledgeable product specialists are here to help you make the right

choices. Your questions or concerns are promptly answered via email or phone.

Live well,

Wolfe Clinic Consultants