Introduction
After deciding to stay home due to a headache, you feel
your temperature rising and head pounding. Your aching body struggles to
complete simple tasks. Your inability to keep balance, nausea and convulsions
point to influenza. But is it just the flu? If it has lasted over ten days,
there is a possibility that you could have H1N1, or Swine flu. In the year
2009, according to researchers:
“An estimated 151,700
to 575,400 people died as a result of the swine flu outbreak during the first
year alone – meaning the death toll may have been 15 times higher than what was
reported by the World Health Organization” (Crees 1).
How
do you think you contracted this flu? Was it from the man who sneezed as he
passed you in the grocery store? Maybe the microscopic drops of the mucous were
on the door handle of the public restroom. The H1N1 virus can unfortunately be
spread like any other flu, with some of the same symptoms. The virus got its
nickname Swine Flu because the genetic makeup of the virus was similar to a
virus found in pigs of North America. Swine flu is a disease deriving from
pigs. This flu was classified as an extremely contagious respiratory disease.
In 2009, the first case of swine flu was reported in the
U.S. The new virus was quickly spread as the United States and the rest of the
world (Flu.Gov 1). The first U.S. case was diagnosed of April 15,2009. By April
26, the U.S. government declared the swine flu virus a public health emergency.
This case quantity quickly jumped to 18,000 cases and a total of 74 countries
were affected by the H1N1 virus (Pandemic Flu History).
Like many other viruses, the swine flu is spread in the
exact same fashion that an ordinary cold or flu would. If an infected person
sneezed or coughed and did not cover their expelled body particles, the
droplets couple spread at or about three feet (Choices 1). If someone were to
cough directly into their hand without a follow up of sanitation, the droplets
could easily be transferred to any surface the person comes into contact with.
Evidence of the pandemic suggested that one infected
person could infect at least two other individuals, and that spread
particularly swiftly in closed communities such as schools, work offices, and
private homes (Choices). The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that this
H1N1 virus pandemic was the fastest moving influenza and deemed it “pointless”
to count every case (Nebehay). By June 11, 2009, the United Nations agency
revised its requirements so that health authorities would only report clusters
of severe cases and deaths.
Causes
& Effects on Society
The H1N1 flu is
caused by a virus, whose most common subtype or strain is influenza type A
H1N1. H1N1 got its H and N from proteins found on the surface of the virus and
are used to differentiate between the different subtypes.
This influenza virus constantly changes its genes, also
known as mutation. The swine flu virus being found in the human host is said to
have “jumped the species barrier”. The mutation it goes through allows it to
plague humans with the conditions of the flu. This particular strain is common
in pigs, humans, and birds.
Because H1N1 occurred in 2009, which was ironically
around the launch of the infamously influential and real-time social media
platform known as Twitter(1). This virus marked the first instance where a
global pandemic occurred in the age of Web 2.0 and allowed public health
officials to investigate the role of this website in public health emergencies
(1). This study was referred to as “infoveillance” or information surveillance.
This study was able to analyze how Twitter users primarily disseminated
information from credible sources, but also turned it into a valuable source of
opinions an experiences first hand (Chew and Eysenbach). Citizens reacted
swiftly and went to their most convenient source of information: the internet.
The biggest questions
about the pandemic were: Where did Swine flu come from? Did it really come from
pigs? It is suggested that the best way to answer those inquiries would be to
examine the genetic makeup of H1N1. The genetic strains actually proved to be
similar to viruses that infected North American swine over the past decade
(Webby). The most common conclusion is that the virus in pigs as well as the
viruses plaguing pigs in Asia – somehow crossbred and mutated past the human
body’s barriers. That being said, the answer is yes. In observation of the genetic
strains, the pigs were in on this one.
The infections on humans consisted of nausea, emesis
(vomiting), diarrhea, and headaches among other symptoms of the common cold. The
Swine flu was most commonly found in young adults and small children. Symptoms
such as fatigue and fever, loss of appetite and chills were also apparent. Some
cases would even fall to severe complications like respiratory failure,
pneumonia, and death.
Solutions
The contagious period of the influenza lasts for five to
seven days after the host would become sick. Health officials implemented
solutions by incubating patients for one to four days, with an average of two
days. Some cases were incubated for as long as seven days (Davis 1).
Because many patients turned to the internet for
solutions and more information, many home remedies were found that claimed to
“treat” the swine flu influenza. Mixtures and quantities of natural products
such as cayenne pepper, menthol, or ginseng could be used to treat the flu
symptoms and open the air passages. However, many over-the-counter medications,
such as Aleve, Tylenol and Advil were used to combat and alleviate the
discomfort. While the medications aided, they did not guarantee a cure.
Vaccination was and is found to be the best way to reduce
or prevent the chances of becoming infected with influenza viruses. Two
antiviral agents, zanamivir (Relenza) and oseltamivir (Tamiflu), have been
reported to help prevent or reduce the effects of swine flu if taken within 48
hours of the onset of symptoms (Davis).
Absurdity
Albert Camus, was a French philosopher and
journalist. His views contributed to the belief that it was impossible for man
to “rationalize an irrational universe”. He wrote that his entire existence was
dedicated to opposing the philosophy of nihilism while still leaning strongly into individual freedom. He is also noted to
have been an anarchist and atheist.
It
is safe to say that Albert Camus would have been devastated by how fast the
Swine flu spread. Small children were greatly affected, as well as our elders
members of society. Citizens worldwide were plagued with stress and anxiety of
the plague. Would they get contract the infection? Who would watch their family
in the possibility of death? Who would explain to their youngest child that the
matriarch of the family was not going to return home?
However, because the pandemic was able to decline
progressively, Camus would feel some sort of relief that it was able to have
efforts made for prevention and quarantine.
Conclusion
During this pandemic, an estimated 151,700 to 575,400
people died from contracting the swine flu outbreak during the first year alone
(Crees). Schools were closed, and citizens were sent into a frenzy. The swine flu quickly became a pandemic and
spread across the United States and several dozens of countries, infecting the
masses by the millions. Swine flu has been among the dominant strains of the
flu circulating since 2009 (Conolly 1). The infected can expect to spend
between one and three weeks sick, instead of the usual few days. Typically,
small children and the elderly to face the most complications, this is not
always the case in most recent years such as 2016.
This year, young and
middle-aged adults seem to be suffering more (Conolly). Pregnant women, those
with diabetes, and small children are at particular risk, however there has
been been a remarkable increase in the number of people who medical attention and
care because of the flu. Physicians
encourage that patients have of rest and fluids the way they would handle a
normal flu or fever, as this will minimize the suffering significantly.
Painkillers such as the aforementioned Advil, Tylenol, and help pains while
cough syrups can aid the airways and passages. Humidified air is also
suggested.
Talk
of the swine flu has also dramatically decreased, which has become a cultural
norm for citizens. Every so often, a pandemic is introduced by the media…which
sends some citizens into a state of panic and worry. It is interesting that
months later… the next infection is introduced, while the previous fades into
oblivion. To note, our current cultural panic is fixated around Zika, a disease
transmitted from mosquitoes that affects mostly pregnant women and the elderly…
which also has flu-like symptoms. Brazil, the country most plagued by the Zika
virus, is facing another epidemic with the world Olympics just months away: a
swine flu outbreak.
Works Cited
Conolly, Marshall.
"Feeling Crummy? You Could Have H1N1 Swine Flu - Health & Wellness -
News - Catholic Online." Feeling Crummy? You Could Have H1N1 Swine Flu -
Health & Wellness - News - Catholic Online.
http://www.catholic.org/news/health/story.php?id=68073 (2016).
Crees, Alex.
"Death Toll from 2009 H1N1 Outbreak Was Much Higher than Previous
Estimates | Fox News." Fox News.
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/06/26/death-toll-from-200-h1n1-outbreak-was-much-higher-than-previous-estimates.html
(2016).
Choices, Information
From NHS. "Swine Flu: How the Influenza A H1N1 Virus Spreads." The
Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/swine-flu-information/5258518/Swine-flu-How-the-influenza-A-H1N1-virus-spreads.html
(2016).
Davis, Charles Patrick.
"Swine Flu Symptoms, Treatment, Prevention & H1N1 Vaccine."
MedicineNet. Web. http://www.medicinenet.com/swine_flu/article.htm (2016).
Nehebay, Stephanie.
"H1N1 Pandemic Spreading Too Fast to Count: WHO." Reuters. Thomson
Reuters. http://www.reuters.com/article/us-flu-who-idUSTRE56F57U20090716
(2016).
"Pandemic Flu
History." Flu.Gov. http://www.flu.gov/pandemic/history/ (2016).
Webby, Richard.
"Did This 'Swine Flu' Really Come From Pigs?" ABC News. ABC News
Network. http://abcnews.go.com/Health/SwineFluRiskAndPrevention/story?id=7737440
(2009).
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