Another FAQ on Swine Flu

Ministry of Health Malaysia
Swine Influenza
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is Swine Influenza?

Swine influenza (Swine Flu), is a highly contagious acute respiratory disease of pigs, caused by influenza A viruses that regularly causes diseases and outbreaks of influenza in pigs. Swine Flu viruses causes high level of illness (high morbidity) and low death rates (low mortality) at about 1-4 % in pigs. The mode of spreads of this virus among pigs is by aerosols and direct and indirect contact, and asymptomatic carrier pigs exist. In temperate countries, outbreaks in pigs occur throughout the year with an increased incidence in the fall and winter similar to outbreaks in humans.

2. How many Swine Flu viruses are there?

Swine Flu viruses change constantly as other influenza viruses. There are four main influenza A virus subtypes been isolated in pigs. Those viruses are most commonly of the H1N1 subtype, but other subtypes are also circulating in pigs (e.g., H1N2, H3N1, H3N2). Pigs can also be infected with avian influenza viruses and human seasonal influenza viruses as well as swine influenza viruses. The H3N2 swine virus was thought to have been originally introduced into pigs by humans. Sometimes pigs can be infected with more than one virus type at a time, which can allow the genes from these viruses to mix resulting in an influenza virus containing genes from a number of sources, called a "reassortant" virus. Although swine influenza viruses are normally species specific and only infect pigs, they do sometimes cross the species barrier to cause disease in humans.
Most of the recently isolated influenza viruses from pigs have been H1N1 viruses.

3. Where have human cases occurred?

Since the implementation of IHR (2005) in 2007, WHO has been notified of swine influenza cases from the United States and Spain.

4. What are the signs and symptoms of Swine Flu in people?

The symptoms of Swine Flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular Human Flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhoea and vomiting associated with Swine Flu. In the past, severe illness (pneumonia and respiratory failure) and deaths have been reported with Swine Flu infection in people. Like Seasonal Flu, swine flu may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions.

5. Is it safe to eat pork and pork products?

Yes. There is no evidence that Swine Flu can be transmitted through eating properly handled and prepared pork (pig meat) or other products derived from pigs. However, it is essential to cook pig meat properly. The swine influenza virus is killed by cooking temperatures of 160°F/70°C, corresponding to the general guidance for the preparation of pork and other meat.

6. How do people become infected?

Swine Flu does not normally infect humans, although sporadic cases do occur. People usually get swine influenza through contact with infected pigs, or environments contaminated with Swine Flu viruses. However, some human cases lack contact history with pigs or environments where pigs have been located. Human-to-human transmission has been documented in some instances but was limited to close contacts and closed groups of people.

7. Is there a human vaccine to protect from swine influenza?

No. Current seasonal influenza vaccine produced based on WHO recommendation does not contain swine influenza virus. It is unknown whether the seasonal vaccines can provide any cross protection to ongoing swine influenza virus infection in the United States and Mexico.

8. What drugs are available for treatment?

Most of the previously reported swine influenza cases recovered fully from the disease without requiring medical attention and without antiviral medicines.

9. How long can an infected person spread Swine Flu to others?

People with swine influenza virus infection should be considered potentially contagious as long as they are symptomatic and possible for up to 7 days following illness onset. Children, especially younger children, might potentially be contagious for longer periods.

10. What can I do to protect myself from getting sick?

There is no vaccine available right now to protect against Swine Flu. There are certain actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza such as:

􀂃 Cover your nose and mouth with a disposable tissue or handkerchief when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the waste basket after you use it.
􀂃 Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
􀂃 Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
􀂃 If you get sick with influenza, stay at home and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
􀂃 Consult your nearest health care facilities

For more information please call Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre (CPRC),
Ministry of Health Malaysia at 03–88810200/88810300 or email cprc@moh.gov.my
27 April 2009

Beware of Swine Flu Outbreak!

KUALA LUMPUR, April 26 (Bernama) -- The Immigration Department has gone on the alert over a swine flu outbreak in Mexico and is ready to work closely with the Health Ministry to prevent the spread of the disease to Malaysia, its director-general Datuk Mahmood Adam said today.

"We are awaiting instructions from the Ministry of Health by tomorrow and we will provide full cooperation at all entry points," he told Bernama.

He said the department had experience as it had provided an effective service during the outbreak of the Asian bird flu.

The latest swine flu epidemic in Mexico has so far claimed 62 lives, and the World Health Organisation (WHO) had said that some of the deaths had been confirmed as being due to a type of swine flu labelled A(H1N1) not previously seen in pigs or humans.

Latest wire reports said the swine flu had spread to the United States and that WHO was concerned that it might spread to the rest of the world.

The symptoms of the swine flu are similar to those of ordinary flu, with fever, cough, runny nose and body aches.

The latest flu is said to be more virulent than the previous one as it is a combination of the avian, human and swine viruses.

Experts said there was yet a vaccine for the latest flu. However, they advised that the best precaution would be to keep the hands clean by washing to avoid being infected.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai has reportedly advised Malaysians not to panic, saying the government would take all necessary steps to stop the disease from spreading to Malaysia.

He said the ministry would also keep the people regularly informed of developments.

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Swine Flu: Who is at risk? What are the symptoms?

By Jeremy Laurance
Monday, 27 April 2009
The Independant

Q: What is swine flu?

A: Much the same as human flu – but in pigs. The worry is that pigs are excellent hosts for the virus. And because they are genetically close to humans, they can pass the virus to us more easily than birds can. The great fear over the past decade has been that the avian flu virus, H5N1, would infect pigs which would act as a reservoir for its transmission to humans. Luckily for the world, apart from a few isolated outbreaks, this did not happen.

Q: How worried should we be?

A: At this stage, no one knows. The virus that has caused the outbreak is a strain of the H1N1 type that contains bird, pig and human genes in a combination never seen before. Immunity to it will thus be limited. Scientists are working to establish the precise nature of the virus, the symptoms it causes and its capacity to cause disease and death.

Q Has swine flu infected humans before?

A: Yes. There have been rare cases since the 1950s, mostly in people such as farmers who work directly with pigs. In Europe, 17 cases have been reported since 1958. In the US, an outbreak at a military camp in New Jersey in 1976, infected over 200 soldiers, of which 12 were hospitalised and one died.

Q What are the symptoms of swine flu?

A: Similar to ordinary human flu – cough, sudden fever, headache, muscle pains. In severe cases, it may lead to pneumonia, multi-organ failure, and death. The incubation period for ordinary human flu is two to five days.

Q: Can it be treated?

A: Yes – up to a point. Early indications are that patients in Mexico and the US have been successfully treated with the antiviral drugs Tamiflu and Relenza. These drugs cannot prevent flu but they can limit its severity, and thus save lives, if taken as soon as symptoms develop. However, the swine flu has proved resistant to older anti-virals such as amantadine.

Q: Is Britain prepared for a pandemic?

A: Better than it was five years ago. A pandemic plan has been prepared detailing action by everyone from pharmacists, who will hand out anti-viral drugs, to hospitals handling the seriously ill, to mortuaries which may have to be temporarily expanded. Over 14 million courses of Tamiflu have been stockpiled and the Government announced last year it was doubling the amount to provide enough for half the population.

Q: How bad might a pandemic be?

A: At its worst, it could have a devastating global impact, greater than a terrorist attack, nuclear accident or environmental disaster. The World Health Organisation estimates that a mild pandemic could cause up to 7.5 million deaths. In the UK, Sir Liam Donaldson, the Government's Chief Medical Officer, has said that in the worst case scenario the country could face up to 750,000 deaths. However, in the flu pandemics of 1957 and 1968 most victims recovered. There was no panic, cities did not empty, travel did not come to a halt and economies weren't devastated. Each of those pandemics killed 50,000 people in the UK and around one million worldwide. In a normal year, flu kills 12,000 to 20,000 mainly elderly people in Britain and 250,000 around the world.

Q: Who is at greatest risk?

A: In Mexico, the virus appears to be targeting those aged 20 to 40. This is not unusual – the same occurred during the worst pandemic of the last century, in 1918, when 20 to 40 million people died. Young healthy people with strong immune systems react most powerfully to the virus but the very strength of their reaction produces inflammation and secretions in the lungs which can be overwhelming. In the US, the virus appears to be targeting children who are suffering only mild illness. The difference in the two countries is so far unexplained. One hypothesis is that a second virus may be circulating in Mexico which is interacting with the swine flu virus to produce more severe symptoms.

Q: How can I protect my family?

A: By acquiring a stock of anti-viral drugs such as Tamiflu or Relenza, available only on prescription at an NHS cost of around £20 for a course of 10 doses (enough for one person). Otherwise, the best defence is strict personal hygiene. It is hard to better the advice printed by the 'News Of the World' on 3 November 1918: "Wash inside nose with soap and water night and morning; force yourself to sneeze night and morning, then breathe deeply. Do not wear a muffler, take sharp walks regularly and walk home from work; eat plenty of porridge." Porridge is, of course, a known cure-all – but the rest of the advice holds as true today as it did then.

Q: Is there a vaccine against it?

A:Not in humans (there is in pigs). Ordinary seasonal flu vaccine for humans might offer some protection because there are similarities between the H1N1 human flu viruses and the new H1N1 pig flu virus. Investigations are under way to see if the seasonal vaccine would have a protective effect but those will "take some time".

Q: Why has this outbreak started in Mexico and the US?

A: No one knows, but it is certainly a surprise. The next threat was expected to come from the Far East. Avian flu has spread through poultry populations, and 400 humans have been infected, 250 of whom have died. Health experts warned that a small mutation to the virus could turn a rare but lethal disease into one which could threaten the entire planet. Now, the threat has emerged – but on the other side of the world.

Q: Is it safe to eat pork?

A: Yes. Cooking destroys the virus.

Intravenous Vitamin C To Treat Cancer:3 Case Reports

Vit C And Cancer

View more documents from drhapizi.

Vitamin C: An Update

Linus Pauling (1901-1994), Nobel Prize winner, one of most influential chemist in history, also known as 'Vitamin C Man' will always be remembered as an 'authority' notably in vitamin c area/research.

This article is taken from Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University on the latest what scientists know about..VITAMIN C

______________________

Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin. Unlike most mammals, humans do not have the ability to make their own vitamin C. Therefore, we must obtain vitamin C through our diet.

Function

Vitamin C is required for the synthesis of collagen, an important structural component of blood vessels, tendons, ligaments, and bone. Vitamin C also plays an important role in the synthesis of the neurotransmitter, norepinephrine. Neurotransmitters are critical to brain function and are known to affect mood. In addition, vitamin C is required for the synthesis of carnitine, a small molecule that is essential for the transport of fat to cellular organelles called mitochondria, for conversion to energy . Recent research also suggests that vitamin C is involved in the metabolism of cholesterol to bile acids, which may have implications for blood cholesterol levels and the incidence of gallstones .

Vitamin C is also a highly effective antioxidant. Even in small amounts vitamin C can protect indispensable molecules in the body, such as proteins, lipids (fats), carbohydrates, and nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) from damage by free radicals and reactive oxygen species that can be generated during normal metabolism as well as through exposure to toxins and pollutants (e.g. smoking). Vitamin C may also be able to regenerate other antioxidants such as vitamin E .

The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA)

In the U.S., the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for vitamin C was recently revised upward from 60 mg daily for men and women. The RDA continues to be based primarily on the prevention of deficiency disease, rather than the prevention of chronic disease and the promotion of optimum health. The recommended intake for smokers is 35 mg/day higher than for nonsmokers, because smokers are under increased oxidative stress from the toxins in cigarette smoke and generally have lower blood levels of vitamin C.

Disease Prevention

The amount of vitamin C required to prevent chronic disease appears to be more than that required for prevention of scurvy. Much of the information regarding vitamin C and the prevention of chronic disease is based on prospective studies, in which vitamin C intake is assessed in large numbers of people who are followed over time to determine whether they develop specific chronic diseases.

Benefits in disease prevention

Cardiovascular Disease.

-A study found that the risk of death from cardiovascular diseases was 42% lower in men and 25% lower in women who consumed more than 50 mg/day of dietary vitamin C and who regularly took vitamin C supplements, corresponding to a total vitamin C intake of about 300 mg/day (NHANES I)

Stroke

-A prospective study that followed more than 2,000 residents of a rural Japanese community for 20 years found that the risk of stroke in those with the highest serum levels of vitamin C was 29% lower than in those with the lowest serum levels of vitamin C .

Cancer

A number of case-control studies have investigated the role of vitamin C in cancer prevention. Most have shown that higher intakes of vitamin C are associated with decreased incidence of cancers of the mouth, throat and vocal chords, esophagus, stomach, colon-rectum, and lung.

Cataracts

Decreased vitamin C levels in the lens of the eye have been associated with increased severity of cataracts in humans. Some, but not all, studies have observed increased dietary vitamin C intake and increased blood levels of vitamin C.

Lead toxicity

In a study of 747 older men, blood lead levels were significantly higher in those who reported total dietary vitamin C intakes averaging less than 109 mg/day compared to men who reported higher vitamin C intakes

Dr H's comment:

Most nutritional experts nowadays recommend us to take 1000-2000 mg vitamin C daily in order to prevent the current epidemic of chronic diseases.(regular multivitamin contains about 60 mg vitamin c, so you need to take it separately)

full article:

http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/vitamins/vitaminC/index.html

on Linus Pauling:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linus_Pauling

Glutathione: The mother of all antioxidants...

By: Mark Hyman, MD

It's the most important molecule you need to stay healthy and prevent disease -- yet you've probably never heard of it.

It's the secret to prevent aging, cancer, heart disease, dementia, and more, and necessary to treat everything from autism to Alzheimer's disease.

There are more than 76,000 medical articles about it -- but your doctor doesn't know how address the epidemic deficiency of this critical life-giving molecule.

What is it?

I'm talking about the mother of all antioxidants, the master detoxifier and maestro of the immune system.

It is GLUTATHIONE (pronounced "gloota-thigh-own").
The good news is that your body produces its own glutathione.
The bad news is that poor diet, pollution, toxins, medications, stress, trauma, aging, infections, and radiation all deplete your glutathione.

This leaves you susceptible to unrestrained cell disintegration from oxidative stress and free radicals, and to infections and cancer. And your liver gets overloaded and damaged, making it unable to do its job of detoxification.

Then what happens?

Well, let me tell you what I've learned.
In treating chronically ill patients with Functional Medicine for more than 10 years, I have discovered that glutathione deficiency is found in nearly all very ill patients.
These include people with chronic fatigue syndrome, heart disease, cancer, chronic infections, autoimmune disease, diabetes, autism, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, arthritis, asthma, kidney problems, liver disease, and more.

At first I thought that this was just a coincidental finding, but over the years I have come to realize that our ability to produce and maintain a high level of glutathione is critical to recovery from nearly all chronic illness -- and to preventing disease and maintaining optimal health and performance.
And so have the authors of 76,000 medical articles on glutathione!

==> So what exactly is glutathione?

Glutathione is a very simple molecule that is produced naturally all the time in your body.
It is a combination of three simple building blocks of protein or amino acids -- cysteine, glycine, and glutamine.

The secret of its power is the sulfur (SH) chemical groups it contains. Sulfur is a sticky, smelly molecule. It acts like fly paper and all the bad things in the body stick onto it, including free radicals and toxins like mercury and other heavy metals.
Normally glutathione is recycled in the body -- except when the toxic load becomes too great. And that explains why we are in such trouble.

In my practice, I test the genes involved in glutathione metabolism. These are the genes involved in producing enzymes that allow the body to create and recycle glutathione in the body.
These genes have many names, such as GSTM1, GSTP1, and more.

So why are these genes impaired in some people?

Well, humans evolved in a time before the 80,000 toxic industrial chemicals of today were introduced into our world, before electromagnetic radiation was everywhere, and before we polluted our skies, lakes, rivers, oceans, and teeth with mercury and lead.
That is why most people survived with just the basic version of the genetic detoxification software encoded in our DNA, which is mediocre at ridding the body of toxins.

We just didn't need more.

Who knew we would be poisoning ourselves and eating a processed, nutrient-depleted diet?
Because of this, almost of half of the population now has a limited capacity to get rid of toxins -- they are missing GSTM1 function.
Nearly all my very sick patients (including me, which is why I became mercury poisoned and suffered from chronic fatigue syndrome) are missing this function. This is the one-third of our population that suffers from chronic disease.

==> So why is glutathione so important?

Glutathione recycles antioxidants.

You see, dealing with free radicals is like handing off a hot potato. They get passed around from vitamin C to vitamin E to lipoic acid and then finally to glutathione which cools off the free radicals and recycles the other antioxidants.
Then the body can "reduce" or regenerate another protective glutathione molecule. And we are back in business.
The problem occurs when we are overwhelmed with too much oxidative stress or too many toxins.
Then the glutathione becomes depleted, leading us toward illness.
We can no longer protect ourselves against free radicals, infections, or cancer and we can't get rid of toxins, leading to further sickness.
But that's not all.
Glutathione is also critical in helping your immune system do its job of fighting infections and preventing cancer. That's why studies show that it can help in the treatment of AIDS.
Glutathione is also the most critical and integral part of your detoxification system. All the toxins stick onto glutathione, which then carries them into the bile and the stool -- and out of your body.
And lastly, it also helps us reach peak mental and physical function. Research has shown that raised glutathione levels decrease muscle damage, reduce recovery time, increase strength and endurance, and shift metabolism from fat production to muscle development.
If you are sick or old or are just not in peak shape, you likely have glutathione deficiency.
In fact, the top British medical journal, "The Lancet," found the highest glutathione levels in healthy young people, lower levels in healthy elderly, lower still in sick elderly, and the lowest of all in the hospitalized elderly.
Keeping yourself healthy, boosting your performance, preventing disease and aging well depends on keeping your glutathione levels high.
I'll say it again.
Glutathione is so important because it is responsible for keeping so many of the keys to UltraWellness optimized.
It is critical for immune function and controlling inflammation. It is the master detoxifier and the body's main antioxidant, protecting our cells and making our energy metabolism run well.

Now, the good news.

==> You can do many things to increase this natural and critical molecule in your body.

You can eat glutathione-boosting foods.
You can exercise.
You can take glutathione-boosting supplements.

FOODS

* Sulfur-rich foods. The main ones in the diet are garlic, onions, and the cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, kale, collards, cabbage, cauliflower, watercress, etc.).
* Bioactive whey protein. This is great source of cysteine and the amino acid building blocks for glutathione synthesis. As you know I am not a big fan of dairy. But this is an exception -- with a few warnings. The whey protein MUST be bioactive and made from non-denatured proteins (denatured means the breakdown of the normal protein structure). Choose non-pasteurized and industrially produced milk that contains no pesticides, hormones, or antibiotics. Immunocal is a prescription bioactive non-denatured whey protein that is even listed in the Physician's Desk Reference.

EXERCISE

* Exercise boosts your glutathione levels and thereby helps boost your immune system, improve detoxification, and enhance your body's own antioxidant defenses. Start slow and build up to 30 minutes a day of vigorous aerobic exercise like walking or jogging, or play various sports. Strength training for 20 minutes 3 times a week is also helpful.

SUPPLEMENTS

It would be easy just to take glutathione as a pill. But the body digests protein -- and you don't get the benefits. The production and recycling of glutathione in the body also requires many different nutrients

Here are the main supplements that need to be taken consistently to boost glutathione.
(In fact, besides taking a multivitamin and fish oil, supporting my glutathione levels is the most important thing I do every day for my health.)

* N-acetyl-cysteine. This has been used for years to help treat asthma and lung disease and to treat people with life-threatening liver failure from Tylenol overdose. In fact, I first learned about it in medical school and while working in the emergency room. It is even given now to prevent kidney damage from dyes used during x-ray studies.

* Alpha lipoic acid. This is a close second to glutathione in importance in our cells and is involved in energy production, blood sugar control, brain health, and detoxification. The body usually makes it, but given all the stresses we are under, we often become depleted.

* Methylation nutrients (folate, vitamins B6 and B12). These are perhaps the most critical to keep the body producing glutathione. Methylation and the production and recycling of glutathione are the two most important biochemical functions in your body (see my blogs on methylation for more details). Take folate (especially in the active form of 5 methyltetrahydrofolate), B6 (in active form of P5P), and B12 (in the active form of methylcobalamin).

* Selenium. This important mineral helps the body recycle and produce more glutathione.

* A family of antioxidants including vitamins C and E (in the formed of mixed tocopherols), work together to recycle glutathione.

* Milk thistle (silymarin) has long been used in liver disease and helps boost glutathione levels.

Dr. H's comment:
In our holistic centre, we use injectable glutathione as per diagram below which is very easy to administer and give faster, effective and reliable result