The 2009 outbreak of swine flu or H1N1 virus is recently hugging the limelight due to the potential harm or effects it can have on a patient or on a community. Unfortunately, the source of the virus still cannot be traced.

Before the first case in the United States was discovered, the illness was believed to have started in Mexico which eventually spread to other countries. Recently, the first case of swine flu was reported in

Costa Rica. Alarmed that it could grow into a worldwide flu epidemic, the World Health Organization of the United Nations and the Center for Disease Control Prevention (CDC) in the United States raised its pandemic alert level to Phase 5, which signifies that a pandemic is imminent.

While experts believed that the recent outbreak is not as fatal as previous epidemics, such as the SARS virus, health officials believe that the number of cases could go up as the new flu is expected to make its way throughout the United States.

The new swine influenza strain is apparently a new variant of four strains of influenza A virus subtype H1N1. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, one of the strain is endemic in humans and birds and a couple are endemic in pigs.

However, according to scientists the 2009 H1N1 outbreak is of swine origin which is associated with the virus isolated in North America in 1998. To hasten understanding of the current outbreak as well as in coming up with a vaccine, scientists from Canada have completed the full genetic sequencing of the H1N1 virus.

The new strain of H1N1 has become widespread in Mexico and the United States with confirmed cases in 18 countries and suspected cases in 42 others. Travelers have been warned not to travel to affected countries such as Iceland, Singapore, Thailand, South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, to name a few.

In addition, warnings have also been issued warnings to visitors of countries affected by the outbreak. It is advisable for visitors to see the doctor right away if they experience flu-like symptoms.

In Mexico, schools, universities, and all public events were suspended from April 24 to May 6, 2009. In the United States, over 400 schools were closed as of May 3, 2009, which included schools in Texas and about 250,000 confirmed or probable cases.

Dr. Keiji Fukuda, who is the Assistant Director-General for Health Securiy and Environment of the World Health Organization confirmed that efforts to control the outbreak is already too late and should now focus on lessening the effects of the virus. He also clarified that closing borders or limiting travel to infected areas will do little in stopping the spread of the H1N1 virus.

On April 28, 2009, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention suggested that as much as possible, people should avoid non-important travel to Mexico.

According to Dr. Ira Longini, who is an expert in the mathematics and statistics of epidemics, staying at home, seeking medical care, closing public venues, and making anti-flu medicines accessible can help reduce the sickness by almost two-thirds.

Finally, according to Dr. Longini, the focus of efforts is to slow transmission until there is a vaccine that can be developed and made available for controlling swine flu outbreaks.

The human cases of swine flu, which is spread by influenza virus A (H1N1), have been reported from Mexico and the US, where many people have fallen ill and even died from it. The health agencies are working closely and the World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed that some of the human cases are a never seen before version of this virus. There are several methods of preventing flu, although in the case of swine flu, people should resort to effective anti-viral drugs like Tamiflu and Relenza for preventative reasons. What is Swine flu? Swine flu is a respiratory disease, which is caused by influenza type A virus (H1N1) that infects pigs. The symptoms of swine flu are similar to that of seasonal flu, although there have been several reported human deaths that are linked to swine flu. It is considered as new version of H1N1 strain, which caused the 1918 flu pandemic. How to treat Swine flu? There is no specific vaccine for controlling this type of flu, but some current drugs can prove helpful. Apart from anti-viral drugs, people can do a bit on their part. They should maintain a good personal hygiene such as washing hands, and covering their nose while sneezing. Doctors have recommended some anti-viral treatments like Tamiflu or Relenza, depending upon the suitability of a patient. These two drugs are commonly used for the treatment of influenza type A, and considering swine flu is a strain of influenza type A, it has been reported to treat it. . The US health authorities have discovered that not only can these drugs help in swine flu treatment, but can also help in preventing it spreading. These drugs ensure that the flu virus is not transmitted easily among people. Tamiflu is an oral prescription drug that is used for the treatment as well as prevention of flu. The main ingredient in it is oseltamivir phosphate, which can prevent the spread of flu virus in the body. It also helps to ease off the flu symptoms. Tamiflu is available in the strength of a 75 mg capsule. Similar to Tamiflu is another flu treatment known as Relenza, which is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline. It can help treat type A or B influenza, including swine flu. It comes in the form of a powder, which is inhaled at least two times in a day or as directed by the doctor. Both these anti-viral drugs can prove helpful in the treatment of swine flu. You can get them from any local pharmacy by showing a prescription from a doctor, or you can buy them over the internet from any authentic online source. What to do in order to stay safe during Swine flu? It is advisable for those people who come into contact with the swine virus and have flu like symptoms to seek proper medical advice. Most affected cases have been reported from Mexico, so it has been advised to cancel any travel trips in and out of that country for the time being. You should avoid contact with people who have a fever or a cough, or seem to be unwell due to the flu. If you have no choice but to be close to those already infected, it is advised that you use a mask to cover your nose and mouth to limit the risk of infection.

From Mexico to Florida and all the way across America to New York, swine flu has become a hot topic. As many as 75 students at St. Francis Preparatory School in Queens got sick on Thursday. More got sick on Friday. What health officials want to know is was it swine flu or something more benign. The hype is on for any large numbers of people getting sick as a pandemic could cause great disruption and thousands of deaths.   There are mounting fears about a deadly swine flu virus that is reported to have killed as many as 60 people in Mexico, one that health officials fear has already seeped into the United States. A pandemic is an epidemic of infectious disease that spreads through populations across a large region; for instance a continent, or even worldwide. Mexican and U. S. health officials searched on Saturday for signs an outbreak of a new flu strain is spreading further, after it killed up to 68 people in Mexico and infected eight in the United States. As Mexico shut schools and museums and axed public events, global health officials stopped short of declaring a pandemic. But they warned more cases could come to light, making up a major outbreak, as the flu spreads between people and infected some individuals who had no contact with one another. How’s that work?  Mexico’s deadly swine flu could disrupt trade and travel between the United States and Mexico if it prompts restrictions on the movement of goods across the border or sparks fear in consumers. The potential impact is far from clear as experts race to learn more about the disease, which has claimed the lives of as many as 61 people. But shipping and travel industries are especially vigilant. “If you end up with a significant demand shift, you could end up with a very substantial effect on our products, whether it be government-imposed restrictions or alternatively if the consumers just decide to say ‘no’,” said Bob Young, chief economist with the American Farm Bureau Federation. Any decision to restrict food shipments due to flu would come from the U. S. Agriculture Department, which has the power to “shut down movement,” said Russell Laird, an executive director representing agricultural and food carriers at the American Trucking Associations. “So far, we haven’t heard anything, but if that call is made we’ll make sure to do our part,” he said. It could be major or just a blip on the radar screen so due diligence on every front is needful.

Im going to Mexico next Tuesday, April 28th, im wondering what the chance to close the borders, when I'm in Mexico?