Why the H1N1 Swine Flu is still a concern

As a frequent traveler, I find it very concerning that swine flu reporting exited the media stage almost as quickly as it entered it.  Now we are heading into the flu season yet again, and not much is being said about the continuing epidemic. However, what you might not know, is that the risk of the H1N1 Swine Flu virus remains concerning enough that the government and the national institute for health put together an entire  H1N1 Flu Summit  dedicated to tracking,  preventing, and finding solutions for this illness.

If you look at statistics in the United States alone, you will find that more than 46,900 people have been confirmed as infected, while more than 450 people have died from the H1N1 Swine Flu virus. And globaly the number of confirmed cases is higher than 245,000 with more than 2,700 deaths while that number continues to climb. Now I encourage you to think about the number of confirmed cases.

At first glance, those numbers seem low, and make you believe in that false sense of security that it will not happen to you. The Center for Disease and Control warns: “Because only a small proportion of persons with respiratory illness are tested for novel H1N1, at this time, confirmed and probable case counts represent a significant underestimation of the true number of novel H1N1 flu cases in the U.S., so the true benefit of reporting these numbers to track the course of the epidemic is questionable. In addition, because of the extensive spread of novel H1N1 flu within the United States, it has become extremely resource-intensive for states to count individual cases.“

The United Kingdom and the United States, as well as many European countries are pushing to get vaccines tested and available to people, but the progress to do so has been slow and the media reporting on this has been sparse. Vaccines are still being developed and tested, and we do not yet know what to expect for side effects.

Those at the highest risk of having serious complications with the H1N1 are Pregnant women, the elderly, those with immune compromised systems (or other current medical conditions), children and infants. Currently prevention of the H1N1 is relatively similar to the prevention of standard influenza, as the symptoms at onset are similar. If you must travel, try to avoid traveling to areas where the number of confirmed cases is highest. Here are some tips on avoiding the H1N1 virus while traveling:

• If you need to cough or sneeze, or to clear your throat, use a tissue to cover your face and mouth, if you don’t have a tissue, use the inside of your elbow on your arm.
• Wash your hands (or the inside of your arm on the elbow if you have used it to cough into) frequently with soap and water, especially after you have coughed, sneezed, or blown your nose. Carry a small tube of hand sanitizer, or sanitizing wipes and use frequently. Not only can you use this for your hands, but on the items you are forced to touch, such as ATM keypads, payphone touch pads, money (especially change), restroom exit door handles, luggage handles, etc. (note, when using  antibacterial gels on electronics, place a small amount -dime size- on a tissue and wipe the surface clean)    
• Avoid touching your eyes, your nose and mouth.
• Avoid close contact with people who may be ill.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that  if you become ill, you should stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them. Do not wait until you return home to see a doctor. The earlier treatment is started the better your chances are of a full recovery from swine flu .

More information on dealing with illness while traveling:

• The harsh realities of roadtrips, dealing with illness part 1
• The harsh realities of travel, dealing with illness part 2
• Swine flu, What you need to know
• Medical emergency when traveling, Are you prepared?
• Prevent flu and illness during any kind of travel
• Travel insurance, Why you need it
• Immunizations for domestic and international travel

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• Make your traveling easier and safer, Part 1