U.S. Declares National Health Emergency

By Pork news staff | Monday, April 27, 2009
PorkMag.com

The U.S. Health and Human Services declared a national health emergency on Sunday to further investigate and address the unfolding developments surrounding swine flu. "That sounds more severe than it is," said Janet Napolitano, Homeland Security director. "I wish we could call it 'preparedness'." She pointed out that the "health emergency" declaration is necessary to free up money and procedures in order to move forward in the investigation, surveillance and treatment of this new flu outbreak.

The U.S. government is set to ship roughly 12 million doses, or 25 percent, of its anti-viral, flu treatments to states from the federal stockpile as needed.

Mexico is hardest hit and is contending with the worst of the flu outbreak which is suspected in the deaths of more than 80 people people and sickening perhaps 1,000. In the United States, 20 cases in five states (Texas, California, New York, Kansas and Ohio) have been confirmed. Many of them had recently returned from Mexico. All U.S. cases have recovered, reported Richard Besser, acting director of U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Preparedness, only one of those people had been hospitalized. Approximately 36,000 people die annually due to complications of the flu.

The causative virus is a genetic mix of human virus, bird virus from North America and pig viruses from North America, Europe and Asia.There currently is no vaccine, as this is a new strain, however, work to create a vaccine is underway. Besser noted that the anti-viral treatments appear to be effective. He emphasized basic hygiene is key to prevention and that early treatment of symptoms is key. Some theorize that may be why Mexico has seen greater spread and deaths. The incubation period appears to be 24 to 48 hours.

“The outbreak of swine flu in North America is not a cause for alarm,” President Obama said Monday. "This is obviously a cause for concern and requires a heightened state of alert.” The United States has launched border screening for swine flu exposure, and Obama said the government is "closely monitoring" the emerging cases.

Meanwhile, countries around the world were trying to prevent the outbreak from spreading. Increased border precautions and heightened screening of airline passengers is taking place in Japan, Europe as well as China, Russia and Taiwan.

This is person-to-person spread, noted Besser. "You cannot get swine flu from eating pork. We are screening U.S. livestock just to check what's going on there." So far, the virus (H1N1) has not been found in U.S. animals.

"This is a marathon," said Besser. "As we look for more cases, we will find more cases. Flu viruses are very variable; expect changes to occur regularly. This could resurface 6 months from now."