How the 1918 flu pandemic ended, according to historians and medical experts - The Washington Post

Swine Flu Case Surge: 'No Cause For Alarm'

Ludhiana: Amid the prolonged cold conditions, Ludhiana has witnessed an increase in swine flu cases. The number of cases reported by the district in Jan so far is 85% of the total number of cases witnessed last year.As per health department authorities, a majority of such cases are mild and moderate so the number doesn't indicate a warning.As per the health department data on swine flu, the district reported 28 cases till Jan 26. In 2023, the number of swine flu cases in the district was 33. The data suggests that the number was the highest in 2022 at 63.Civil surgeon Dr Jasbir Singh Aulakh suggested that most of the cases are mild (A) and moderate (B) for which tests shouldn't be done as per the norms. He added that they have written to private hospitals to do testing of C type of cases, which are considered severe.The civil surgeon said the rise in such cases shouldn't be treated as a warning. He advised the patients with severe symptoms to immediately report to a doctor and those with mild and moderate symptoms to isolate themselves, avoid going to crowded places, take symptomatic treatment and take care of diet. The health department officials said that as A and B category swine flu is self limiting, the patients should not worry. They said the contacts of swine flu patients are given prophylactic treatment for 10 days. Dr Amanpreet Kaur of department of medicine at civil hospital said the surge in number of cases this year could be attributed to the prolonged severe cold conditions.Punjab IMA president Dr Sunil Katyal said viral infections such as swine flu, increase during change of season. He advised people, especially those with comorbidities, to get vaccinated before winter season to prevent the infection.We also published the following articles recently2 districts experience cold wave conditionsUmashankar Das, scientist at regional IMD centre, explains that the fall in night temperature and the cold wave is supported by the strengthening of the northwesterly wind pattern. He also predicts a rise in temperature across the state due to a change in the prevailing wind pattern and expects light rain due to the development of a western disturbance.

Swine Flu: UK Detects First Human Case Of New Strain

Health officials are investigating the first confirmed case of a new strain of swine flu in the UK.

The A(H1N2)v infection was detected in a routine flu screening test at a GP surgery in North Yorkshire.

Officials said the person had respiratory symptoms, a mild illness and had fully recovered.

They are not known to have worked with pigs and investigations will look at where the infection came from and its risk to human health.

Human infections with swine flu viruses do occur - there have been 50 cases of A(H1N2)v reported globally in the past 20 years.

There was a case reported in the United States in August.

The infection found in the UK is slightly different from recent human cases of swine flu globally, health officials say, but similar to viruses in UK pigs.

In 2009, there was a pandemic of swine flu in humans caused by a virus spreading in pigs, birds and humans.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said it planned to increase surveillance through GP surgeries and hospitals in parts of North Yorkshire where the case was detected.

Meera Chand, the agency's incident director, said: "We are working rapidly to trace close contacts and reduce any potential spread.

"In accordance with established protocols, investigations are under way to learn how the individual acquired the infection and to assess whether there are any further associated cases."

The new Health Secretary Victoria Atkins said the individual was identified through a "thorough and extensive" screening and monitoring programme run by UKHSA.

"It's good that this case has been spotted - please trust the UKHSA to do their job and to monitor carefully," she said.

People with flu-like symptoms are advised to avoid contact with others, particularly those who are elderly or vulnerable, with other health conditions.

Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss said: "We know that some diseases of animals can be transferred to humans - which is why high standards of animal health, welfare and biosecurity are so important."

She said pig-owners must report any signs of swine flu in their herds to their local vet.

Paul Hunter, professor of medicine at the University of East Anglia, said A(H1N2) did not cause any more severe disease than other commonly circulating types of influenza.

Ian Jones, professor of virology at the University of Reading, said it was "very unlikely" that the single case represented "anything more than has been seen in the past", adding that the mild infection was "also in keeping with previous experience".

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Swine Flu UK :The First Human Case Of Swine Flu Detected

The first human case of swine flu (strain H1N2), similar to the virus that has been circulating among pigs, has been reported in the UK according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). 

The case was picked up during a routine surveillance in GP surgeries. 

The person, who is not known to have worked with pigs, suffered a mild illness and has made a full recovery.

The UKHSA said it is now carrying out contact tracing of close contacts to prevent further spread of the virus.

It is not known at this stage how transmissible the strain is or if there could be other cases in the UK.

The UKHSA also added it is too early to say if the strain could have pandemic potential.

There are around 50 reported cases worldwide of the H1N2 strain in humans.

First case human case of swine flu detected in UK

The case was detected as part of routine national flu surveillance undertaken by UKHSA and the Royal College of GPs, which was in place even before the Covid pandemic.

The patient was tested by their GP in North Yorkshire after experiencing respiratory symptoms.

The first human case of the flu strain H1N2 – which has been circulating in pigs – has been detected in the UK. (Image: Getty Images)

The UKHSA said people with respiratory symptoms should continue to follow the existing guidance – avoiding contact with other people while suffering symptoms and taking particular care around vulnerable people and the elderly.

The UKHSA said it was "monitoring the situation closely and is taking steps to increase surveillance within existing programmes involving GP surgeries and hospitals in parts of North Yorkshire".

This was to "assist in the detection of cases and assessment of transmission, those people who are contacted and asked to test are encouraged to do so."

Incident director at the UKHSA, Meera Chand, said: "It is thanks to routine flu surveillance and genome sequencing that we have been able to detect this virus.

"This is the first time we have detected this virus in humans in the UK, though it is very similar to viruses that have been detected in pigs.

"We are working rapidly to trace close contacts and reduce any potential spread.

"In accordance with established protocols, investigations are under way to learn how the individual acquired the infection and to assess whether there are any further associated cases."

Chief veterinary officer, Christine Middlemiss, said: "We know that some diseases of animals can be transferred to humans, which is why high standards of animal health, welfare and biosecurity are so important.

"Through our animal and human surveillance systems we work together to protect everyone.

"In this case we are providing specialist veterinary and scientific knowledge to support the UKHSA investigation.

"Pig-keepers must also report any suspicion of swine flu in their herds to their local vet immediately."

What is Swine Flu? 

The NHS says swine flu is "a respiratory disease caused by a new strain of flu virus. The seasonal flu vaccines that are already available don't protect against swine flu, so a new flu vaccine has been developed."

Influenza A(H1) viruses are usually found in swine populations in most regions of the world, according to the UKHSA.

UKHSA adds: "When an influenza virus that normally circulates in swine is detected in a person, it is called a 'variant influenza virus'.

"H1N1, H1N2 and H3N2 are major subtypes of swine influenza A viruses in pigs and occasionally infect humans, usually after direct or indirect exposure to pigs or contaminated environments."

In 2009, there was a pandemic in humans caused by swine flu (influenza A H1N1(pdm09)).

That virus, UKHSA says, contained genetic material from viruses that were circulating in pigs, birds and humans in the 1990s and 2000s.

It added: "Influenza A H1N1(pdm09) is now circulating in humans seasonally and is no longer referred to as swine flu. It is distinct from the viruses currently circulating in pigs."

In 2009, there was a pandemic in humans caused by swine flu (influenza A H1N1 (pdm09)). (Image: Getty Images)

What are the symptoms of swine flu?

Swine flu symptoms, according to the NHS, include fever, tiredness, a cough and a sore throat.

Other symptoms can include a headache, aching muscles, chills, sneezing, a runny nose, loss of appetite.

You might also experience vomiting and diarrhoea.

Some people are at a higher risk of becoming seriously ill with swine flu, including pregnant women so it's important to have the vaccine.

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