Well, yes, and No. An effective Vaccine against pandemic(world wide) Avian(bird flu)virus is not yet available. Vaccines are produced each year for seasonal influenza but will not protect against pandemic influenza.

Although a vaccine against the H5N1 virus is under development in several countries, no vaccine is ready for actual use. No vaccines are expected to be widely available until several months after the start of a pandemic.

This is because vaccinations are made by actually utilizing the Specific virus that they are protecting you against. It’s very specific. A vaccination against polio won’t protect you from a cold. If no one is sick, they can’t take a sample and make a vaccination to combat it. Every year health authorities take virus strains that hit various populations,the previous year, and mix them together. They then make a vaccination out of it and hope for the best. When a totally different type of virus shows up it’s a whole new ball game.

Some clinical trials, are now under way, to test whether experimental vaccines will work. Because the vaccine needs to closely match the pandemic virus, large-scale commercial production will not start until the new virus has emerged and a pandemic has been declared. Current global production capacity falls far short of the demand expected during a pandemic.

What drugs are available now for treatment?

Two drugs (in the neuraminidase inhibitors class), oseltamivir (commercially known as Tamiflu) and zanamivir (commercially known as Relenza) can reduce the severity and duration of illness caused by seasonal influenza. The efficacy of Tamiflu (neuraminidase inhibitors) depends on taking it within 48 hours after symptom onset. For cases of human infection with H5N1, the drugs may improve survival, if administered early, but knowledge is limited. The H5N1 virus is expected to be susceptible to the neuraminidase inhibitors.

An older class of antiviral drugs, the M2 inhibitors amantadine and rimantadine, could potentially be used against pandemic influenza, but resistance to these drugs can develop rapidly and this could significantly limit their effectiveness against pandemic influenza. Some currently circulating H5N1 strains are fully resistant to these the M2 inhibitors. However, should a new virus emerge through reassortment, the M2 inhibitors might help.

For Tamiflu (neuraminidase inhibitors), the main problem is limited production capacity and high prices for many countries. At present manufacturing capacity, which has recently quadrupled, it will take a decade to produce enough Tamiflu (oseltamivir) to treat 20% of the world’s population. The manufacturing process for oseltamivir is complex and time-consuming, and is not easily transferred to other facilities.

So far, most fatal cases of H5N1 infection has resulted from the effects of the virus, and cannot be treated with antibiotics. However, influenza is often complicated by secondary bacterial infection of the lungs, antibiotics could be life-saving. WHO regards it as prudent for countries to ensure adequate supplies of antibiotics in advance.

A wise Herbal protection would be to take Astragalus Root as a daily protective tonic. This TCM(Traditional Chinese Medicine)root is well known and researched to dramatically boost Immune Protection and even fight infection. Known as HuangQi(pronounced “WongChi”), Astragalus is a TCM Herb, prescribed as a tonic, for centuries, for strength and vitality. Taken as a tea or tincture, two to three times daily, Astragalus can boost your ability to protect and fight flu in general. Honeysuckle(Lonicera, in Latin), is a powerful antibiotic herbal. Yes, the pretty ,sweet smelling yellow, or pink flower is a serious antiviral medicine. The Chinese have used the unopened buds, known as JinYinHua for centuries to combat infection.

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Wash your hands

Basic way of preventing getting infected is washing your hands frequently, especially after coughing or sneezing. You can use soap and water, alcohol-based hand sanitizers are also effective. Hand sanitizers can be used when water isn’t available.

Don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth

Germs spread when you touch your eyes, nose or mouth after touching something that’s contaminated.

Avoid close contact with sick people

If possible, avoid contact with possibly infected people. Avoid crowds. Swine flu spreads mainly when people cough or sneeze.

Avoid travel

Try to limit traveling, especially to high risk areas such as Mexico. If you’ve been to Mexico and have flu like symptoms visit a doctor.

Wear facemask or respirator

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends wearing facemask in crowded settings to prevent getting infected and to not infect others. Respirator should be used if you have close contact with infected person (for example you’re caring of sick person at home).

Antiviral drugs

Swine influenza A (H1N1) is sensitive to Oseltamivir (sold under name Tamiflu) and Zanamivir (sold as Relenza). They are effective means of swine flu prevention and treatment. If taken for treatment, Tamiflu and Relenza are most effective if taken within 2 days after illness started. They are also effective for prevention if given to healthy person that had contact with infected people. Antiviral drugs are 70% to 90% effective means of flu prevention. According to CDC, number of days they should be used to prevent H1N1 influenza varies depending on each person’s situation.

Vaccine

Influenza A (H1N1) vaccine isn’t available yet, WHO and CDC are working on it.

Stay home if you feel sick

CDC recommends to stay at home for 7 days after symptoms begin or until you are symptom-free for 24 hours to not spread infection further.

Take care of your health

Sleep well, be active, manage stress, drink lots of fluids, eat healthy. This strengthens your immune system.

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Relenza (Zanamivir) Information:

Relenza is a medicine used to treat Influenza, or “flu”, which is caused by a virus infection. Relenza contains zanamivir.

Using a Diskhaler device, Relenza is delivered directly to the primary site of infection in the lungs. It works by destroying a chemical on the surface of the influenza virus. This stops the virus multiplying and spreading throughout the nose, lungs and air passages.

Best results are obtained by taking Relenza as soon as possible after developing symptoms.

Relenza does not work for the common cold or virus infections other than influenza.

Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why Relenza has been prescribed for you.

Relenza can be used in the treatment of influenza type A and B in children over the age of 5 years.

There is limited experience with the use of Relenza in elderly patients (65 years and older). The same dose is recommended in elderly patients.

How to take Relenza

The Pharmacist’s label on the pack will tell you how to take your Relenza. If there is something you do not understand, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

You should start taking Relenza as soon as possible, preferably within two days, after developing symptoms to get the best effect.

If you suffer from asthma, you may need to use your reliever medication before taking Relenza. You should discuss this with your doctor.

Relenza comes as a fine powder. This powder is in small pockets (known as blisters) in a round foil sheet, known as a Disk. The medicine in your Relenza Disk is taken by breathing it in through your mouth using the Relenza Diskhaler. Follow the instruction sheet that is in the box containing your Diskhaler.

You should breathe in the contents of two blisters, twice a day (usually morning and evening), for five days.

Do not miss any doses. If you forget to take a dose take it as soon as you remember, then go back to taking it as you would normally. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to. Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose that you missed.

If you take too much (overdose) immediately telephone your doctor. If you think you or anyone else may have taken too much Relenza, even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.

If you are not sure what to do, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

Please see other Swine Flu treatments: Tamiflu.

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Zanamivir is a medicine used to treat infections caused by two of the most common flu viruses. This medicine may decrease the length of time you experience symptoms of the flu by 1 to 2 days. This medicine may also help to reduce the risk of spreading the flu to others.

How should I use this medicine?

This medicine is inhaled through the mouth. Follow the directions on the prescription label. Make sure that you are using your inhaler correctly. Ask your doctor or health care provider if you have any questions. Finish the whole 5-day course of treatment even if you start to feel better sooner.

If you are also using a bronchodilator inhaler, like albuterol, use that inhaler first. Wait a few minutes before using this medicine.

A patient information sheet for this medicine will be given with each prescription and refill. Read this sheet carefully each time. The sheet may change frequently.

Talk to your pediatrician regarding the use of this medicine in children. While this drug may be prescribed for children as young as 7 years old for selected conditions, precautions do apply.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, use it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, use only that dose and continue with your regular schedule, spacing doses evenly. Do not use double or extra doses.

Where can I keep my medicine?

Keep out of the reach of children. Store at room temperature between 15 and 30 degrees C (59 and 86 degrees F). Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date.

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Swine flu is a type of virus. It’s named for a virus that infects mainly pigs. It normally does not infect people, but human infections can and do happen. The virus is contagious and can spread from human to human. The current swine influenza A (H1N1) virus has components of pig and bird influenza viruses in it, so the humans don’t have any immunity to it. That makes it more likely to become a pandemic virus (have the ability to cause a global outbreak) if it can easily spread from person-to-person. There are antiviral medicines you can take to prevent or treat swine flu. This particular virus is resistant to the antiviral medications amantadine (Symmetrel) and rimantadine (Flumadine), but is sensitive to oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza). There is no vaccine available right now to protect against swine flu.

Symptoms

The symptoms of swine flu are very similar to the common flu that occurs in humans. The symptoms are mostly fever, cold, cough, runny nose, body aches, diarrhea, vomiting, headache etc. In swine flu the symptoms might be more severe like breathlessness, very high grade fever, loss of appetite and fluid intake, listlessness etc.

The important fact is to prevent the spread of this infection. Since it spreads through fomites i.e. through air, infected articles like tissue, paper, pen etc, the preventive measures are very important.

Prevent spread

The measures that can be taken to prevent spread of this particular swine flu are –

1 Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.

2 Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. You can also use alcohol-based hand sanitizers.

3 Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.

4 Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

5 Stay home from work or school if you are sick.

6 Consult a doctor immediately when in doubt about your symptoms.

Important thing to remember is that people with swine flu are likely contagious for one day before and up to seven days after they began to get sick with swine flu symptoms. Also, anti-flu medications, including Tamiflu (oseltamivir) and Relenza (zanamivir), are available to prevent and treat swine flu.

For more tips on prevention and cure of illnesses, post your queries on http://www.simplyanswer.com

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