Text 17 (Srimad Bhagavat Gita, Chapter 9)
"Pitaham asya jagato
mata dhata pitamahah
vedyam pavitram omkara
rk sama yajur eva ca"
Synonyms
pita--father; aham--I; asya--of this; jagatah--universe; mata--mother; dhata--supporter; pitamahah--grandfather; vedyam--what is to be known; pavitram--that which purifies; om-kara--the syllable om; rk--the Rg Veda; sama--the Sama Veda; yajuh--the Yajur Veda; eva--certainly; ca--and.
Translation
I am the father of this universe, the mother, the support and the grandsire. I am the object of knowledge, the purifier and the syllable om. I am also the Rg, the Sama and the Yajur Vedas.
Purport
The entire cosmic manifestations, moving and nonmoving, are manifested by different activities of Krsna's energy. In the material existence we create different relationships with different living entities who are nothing but Krsna's marginal energy; under the creation of prakrti some of them appear as our father, mother, grandfather, creator, etc., but actually they are parts and parcels of Krsna. As such, these living entities who appear to be our father, mother, etc., are nothing but Krsna. In this verse the word dhata means "creator." Not only are our father and mother parts and parcels of Krsna, but the creator, grandmother and grandfather, etc., are also Krsna. Actually any living entity, being part and parcel of Krsna, is Krsna. All the Vedas, therefore, aim only toward Krsna. Whatever we want to know through the Vedas is but a progressive step toward understanding Krsna. That subject matter which helps us purify our constitutional position is especially Krsna. Similarly, the living entity who is inquisitive to understand all Vedic principles is also part and parcel of Krsna and as such is also Krsna. In all the Vedic mantras the word om, called pranava, is a transcendental sound vibration and is also Krsna. And because in all the hymns of the four Vedas--Sama, Yajur, Rg and Atharva--the pranava, or omkara, is very prominent, it is understood to be Krsna.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Sunday, May 31, 2009
കൊമ്പന് കൊട്ടാരക്കര കൃഷ്‌ണന്‍ കുട്ടി ചരിഞ്ഞു
കൊട്ടാരക്കര: തിരുവിതാംകൂര്‍ ദേവസ്വം ബോര്‍ഡിലെ ഏറ്റവും പ്രായം കൂടിയ കൊമ്പന് കൊട്ടാരക്കര കൃഷ്‌ണന്‍ കുട്ടി ചരിഞ്ഞു. തൊണ്ണൂറിലധികം പ്രായമുള്ള കൊമ്പന് കൊട്ടാരക്കര-നീലേശ്വരം റോഡിന്റെ വശത്താണ്‌ കൊമ്പുകുത്തി ചരിഞ്ഞത്‌. ശനിയാഴ്‌ച 11 മണിക്കാണ്‌ സംഭവം. തീറ്റ എടുക്കാനായി നീലേശ്വരം അമ്മൂമ്മമുക്കിനു സമീപത്തേക്ക്‌ കൊണ്ടുപോയ ആന തുമ്പിക്കൈയില്‍ക്കൂടി രക്തം ഒഴുക്കിയാണ്‌ വീണത്‌. കൊമ്പുകുത്തിവീണ ആന ഉടന്‍ ചരിഞ്ഞു. ആനയെ നടന്നുപോയ, അമ്പതുമീറ്ററോളം ദൂരത്തില്‍ രക്തം വീണിട്ടുണ്ട്‌. തുമ്പിക്കൈയില്‍ കരുതിയിരുന്ന ഓല ഉപേക്ഷിച്ച്‌ കുത്തനെയുള്ള കയറ്റം കയറി നീലേശ്വരം റോഡിന്റെ സമീപത്തെ പറമ്പിലെത്തിയാണ്‌ ആന വീണത്‌. പ്രായക്കൂടുതലും കയറ്റം കയറിയതുമൂലമുണ്ടായ ക്ഷീണവും മരണകാരണമായെന്നാണ്‌ ഡോക്ടര്‍മാരുടെ പ്രാഥമിക നിഗമനം. പോസ്റ്റ്‌മോര്‍ട്ടത്തിനുശേഷമേ മറ്റ്‌ അസുഖങ്ങളുണ്ടായിരുന്നോ എന്നതില്‍ വ്യക്തതയുണ്ടാകൂ. 50 വര്‍ഷത്തിലേറെയായി കൊട്ടാരക്കര പടിഞ്ഞാറ്റിന്‍കര മഹാദേവര്‍ക്ഷേത്രത്തിന്റെ ഉടമസ്ഥതയിലാണ്‌ ആന. തേവലപ്പുറം കൈപ്പള്ളഴികത്ത്‌ വീട്ടില്‍ ശങ്കുപ്പിള്ളയുടെ ഉടമസ്ഥതയിലുള്ള ആനയെ വര്‍ഷങ്ങള്‍ക്കു മുമ്പ്‌ ദേവസ്വം ബോര്‍ഡിന്‌ കൈമാറി. കൊട്ടാരക്കര മഹാഗണപതിക്ഷേത്രം, പടിഞ്ഞാറ്റിന്‍കര മഹാദേവര്‍ക്ഷേത്രം, തൃക്കണ്ണമംഗല്‍ ശ്രീകൃഷ്‌ണക്ഷേത്രം, വെട്ടിക്കവല മഹാക്ഷേത്രങ്ങള്‍, തേവലപ്പുറം മൂന്നുമൂര്‍ത്തിക്ഷേത്രം എന്നിവിടങ്ങളിലെ തിടമ്പേറ്റുന്നത്‌ കൃഷ്‌ണന്‍ കുട്ടി ആയിരുന്നു. ശനിയാഴ്‌ച വൈകീട്ട്‌ ആനയുടെ മൃതശരീരം ക്രെയിനിന്റെ സഹായത്തോടെ ഉയര്‍ത്തി ഗണപതിക്ഷേത്രത്തിനു സമീപത്തെ പാര്‍ക്കിങ്‌ ഗ്രൗണ്ടില്‍ എത്തിച്ചു. ഞായറാഴ്‌ച പോസ്റ്റ്‌മോര്‍ട്ടം നടത്തി ഉച്ചയ്‌ക്കുശേഷം സംസ്‌കരിക്കും. മാസങ്ങള്‍ക്കു മുമ്പ്‌ തളച്ചിരുന്നിടത്ത്‌ കുഴഞ്ഞുവീണ ആനയെ മഹാദേവര്‍ക്ഷേത്രത്തിനു സമീപത്തെ താത്‌കാലിക ആനത്തറിയിലാണ്‌ തളച്ചിരുന്നത്‌. ചികിത്സയിലായിരുന്ന ആനയെ ഡോക്ടര്‍മാരുടെ നിര്‍ദ്ദേശപ്രകാരമാണ്‌ നടത്തിച്ചത്‌. എന്നാല്‍ ഇത്രദൂരം നടത്തിയതിലും കുത്തനെയുള്ള കയറ്റം കയറ്റിയതിലും ആനപ്രേമികള്‍ക്ക്‌ ശക്തമായ പ്രതിഷേധമുണ്ട്‌. ആദരസൂചകമായി ശനിയാഴ്‌ച ഉച്ചയ്‌ക്കുശേഷം പട്ടണത്തില്‍ കടകളടച്ച്‌ ഹര്‍ത്താല്‍ ആചരിച്ചു. തിരുവിതാംകൂര്‍ ദേവസ്വം ഡെപ്യൂട്ടി കമ്മീഷണല്‍ രാധാകൃഷ്‌ണക്കുറുപ്പ്‌, അഡ്വ. പി.അയിഷ പോറ്റി എം.എല്‍.എ, മുന്‍ എം.പി. ചെങ്ങറ സുരേന്ദ്രന്‍, ദേവസ്വം അസിസ്റ്റന്റ്‌ കമ്മീഷണര്‍ എന്‍.എന്‍.വിജയകുമാര്‍, അഡ്‌മിനിസ്‌ട്രേറ്റീവ്‌ ഓഫീസര്‍ കെ.പി.ഉണ്ണിക്കൃഷ്‌ണന്‍, മഹാദേവര്‍ക്ഷേത്ര ഉപദേശകസമിതി പ്രസിഡന്റ്‌ അഡ്വ. ടി.പി.പ്രകാശ്‌, സെക്രട്ടറി കെ.ബി.ബിജു, മഹാഗണപതിക്ഷേത്ര ഉപദേശകസമിതി പ്രസിഡന്റ്‌ തേമ്പ്ര വേണുഗോപാല്‍, സെക്രട്ടറി സാബു, സമിതി അംഗങ്ങള്‍ തുടങ്ങിയവര്‍ ഉടന്‍ സംഭവസ്ഥലത്തെത്തി. സ്‌ത്രീകളടക്കം നൂറുകണക്കിനാളുകള്‍ ചരിഞ്ഞ കൊമ്പന് അന്ത്യോപചാരം അര്‍പ്പിക്കാന്‍ എത്തി.
കൊട്ടാരക്കര: തിരുവിതാംകൂര്‍ ദേവസ്വം ബോര്‍ഡിലെ ഏറ്റവും പ്രായം കൂടിയ കൊമ്പന് കൊട്ടാരക്കര കൃഷ്‌ണന്‍ കുട്ടി ചരിഞ്ഞു. തൊണ്ണൂറിലധികം പ്രായമുള്ള കൊമ്പന് കൊട്ടാരക്കര-നീലേശ്വരം റോഡിന്റെ വശത്താണ്‌ കൊമ്പുകുത്തി ചരിഞ്ഞത്‌. ശനിയാഴ്‌ച 11 മണിക്കാണ്‌ സംഭവം. തീറ്റ എടുക്കാനായി നീലേശ്വരം അമ്മൂമ്മമുക്കിനു സമീപത്തേക്ക്‌ കൊണ്ടുപോയ ആന തുമ്പിക്കൈയില്‍ക്കൂടി രക്തം ഒഴുക്കിയാണ്‌ വീണത്‌. കൊമ്പുകുത്തിവീണ ആന ഉടന്‍ ചരിഞ്ഞു. ആനയെ നടന്നുപോയ, അമ്പതുമീറ്ററോളം ദൂരത്തില്‍ രക്തം വീണിട്ടുണ്ട്‌. തുമ്പിക്കൈയില്‍ കരുതിയിരുന്ന ഓല ഉപേക്ഷിച്ച്‌ കുത്തനെയുള്ള കയറ്റം കയറി നീലേശ്വരം റോഡിന്റെ സമീപത്തെ പറമ്പിലെത്തിയാണ്‌ ആന വീണത്‌. പ്രായക്കൂടുതലും കയറ്റം കയറിയതുമൂലമുണ്ടായ ക്ഷീണവും മരണകാരണമായെന്നാണ്‌ ഡോക്ടര്‍മാരുടെ പ്രാഥമിക നിഗമനം. പോസ്റ്റ്‌മോര്‍ട്ടത്തിനുശേഷമേ മറ്റ്‌ അസുഖങ്ങളുണ്ടായിരുന്നോ എന്നതില്‍ വ്യക്തതയുണ്ടാകൂ. 50 വര്‍ഷത്തിലേറെയായി കൊട്ടാരക്കര പടിഞ്ഞാറ്റിന്‍കര മഹാദേവര്‍ക്ഷേത്രത്തിന്റെ ഉടമസ്ഥതയിലാണ്‌ ആന. തേവലപ്പുറം കൈപ്പള്ളഴികത്ത്‌ വീട്ടില്‍ ശങ്കുപ്പിള്ളയുടെ ഉടമസ്ഥതയിലുള്ള ആനയെ വര്‍ഷങ്ങള്‍ക്കു മുമ്പ്‌ ദേവസ്വം ബോര്‍ഡിന്‌ കൈമാറി. കൊട്ടാരക്കര മഹാഗണപതിക്ഷേത്രം, പടിഞ്ഞാറ്റിന്‍കര മഹാദേവര്‍ക്ഷേത്രം, തൃക്കണ്ണമംഗല്‍ ശ്രീകൃഷ്‌ണക്ഷേത്രം, വെട്ടിക്കവല മഹാക്ഷേത്രങ്ങള്‍, തേവലപ്പുറം മൂന്നുമൂര്‍ത്തിക്ഷേത്രം എന്നിവിടങ്ങളിലെ തിടമ്പേറ്റുന്നത്‌ കൃഷ്‌ണന്‍ കുട്ടി ആയിരുന്നു. ശനിയാഴ്‌ച വൈകീട്ട്‌ ആനയുടെ മൃതശരീരം ക്രെയിനിന്റെ സഹായത്തോടെ ഉയര്‍ത്തി ഗണപതിക്ഷേത്രത്തിനു സമീപത്തെ പാര്‍ക്കിങ്‌ ഗ്രൗണ്ടില്‍ എത്തിച്ചു. ഞായറാഴ്‌ച പോസ്റ്റ്‌മോര്‍ട്ടം നടത്തി ഉച്ചയ്‌ക്കുശേഷം സംസ്‌കരിക്കും. മാസങ്ങള്‍ക്കു മുമ്പ്‌ തളച്ചിരുന്നിടത്ത്‌ കുഴഞ്ഞുവീണ ആനയെ മഹാദേവര്‍ക്ഷേത്രത്തിനു സമീപത്തെ താത്‌കാലിക ആനത്തറിയിലാണ്‌ തളച്ചിരുന്നത്‌. ചികിത്സയിലായിരുന്ന ആനയെ ഡോക്ടര്‍മാരുടെ നിര്‍ദ്ദേശപ്രകാരമാണ്‌ നടത്തിച്ചത്‌. എന്നാല്‍ ഇത്രദൂരം നടത്തിയതിലും കുത്തനെയുള്ള കയറ്റം കയറ്റിയതിലും ആനപ്രേമികള്‍ക്ക്‌ ശക്തമായ പ്രതിഷേധമുണ്ട്‌. ആദരസൂചകമായി ശനിയാഴ്‌ച ഉച്ചയ്‌ക്കുശേഷം പട്ടണത്തില്‍ കടകളടച്ച്‌ ഹര്‍ത്താല്‍ ആചരിച്ചു. തിരുവിതാംകൂര്‍ ദേവസ്വം ഡെപ്യൂട്ടി കമ്മീഷണല്‍ രാധാകൃഷ്‌ണക്കുറുപ്പ്‌, അഡ്വ. പി.അയിഷ പോറ്റി എം.എല്‍.എ, മുന്‍ എം.പി. ചെങ്ങറ സുരേന്ദ്രന്‍, ദേവസ്വം അസിസ്റ്റന്റ്‌ കമ്മീഷണര്‍ എന്‍.എന്‍.വിജയകുമാര്‍, അഡ്‌മിനിസ്‌ട്രേറ്റീവ്‌ ഓഫീസര്‍ കെ.പി.ഉണ്ണിക്കൃഷ്‌ണന്‍, മഹാദേവര്‍ക്ഷേത്ര ഉപദേശകസമിതി പ്രസിഡന്റ്‌ അഡ്വ. ടി.പി.പ്രകാശ്‌, സെക്രട്ടറി കെ.ബി.ബിജു, മഹാഗണപതിക്ഷേത്ര ഉപദേശകസമിതി പ്രസിഡന്റ്‌ തേമ്പ്ര വേണുഗോപാല്‍, സെക്രട്ടറി സാബു, സമിതി അംഗങ്ങള്‍ തുടങ്ങിയവര്‍ ഉടന്‍ സംഭവസ്ഥലത്തെത്തി. സ്‌ത്രീകളടക്കം നൂറുകണക്കിനാളുകള്‍ ചരിഞ്ഞ കൊമ്പന് അന്ത്യോപചാരം അര്‍പ്പിക്കാന്‍ എത്തി.
Friday, May 1, 2009
‘Swine Flue Preventive step’
Regarding the ‘Swine Flue’; screening implementation is good in airports.
But, also note that, its essential to open a separate cell in each & every hospitals as well as clinics (including private sector) to prevent ‘Swine Flue’. The visitors of inpatient must be screened before enter the hospitals. There also test required who is accompanying to the out patients. (All must be properly recorded to follow up)
I really & hopefully expecting, such preventive step is more helpful against ‘Swine Flue’ attack.
But, also note that, its essential to open a separate cell in each & every hospitals as well as clinics (including private sector) to prevent ‘Swine Flue’. The visitors of inpatient must be screened before enter the hospitals. There also test required who is accompanying to the out patients. (All must be properly recorded to follow up)
I really & hopefully expecting, such preventive step is more helpful against ‘Swine Flue’ attack.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Swine influenza
27 April 2009
Swine influenza frequently asked questions
What is swine influenza?
Swine influenza, or "swine flu", is a highly contagious acute respiratory disease of pigs, caused by one of several swine influenza A viruses. Morbidity tends to be high and mortality low (1-4%). The virus is spread among pigs by aerosols, direct and indirect contact, and asymptomatic carrier pigs. Outbreaks in pigs occur year round, with an increased incidence in the autumn and winter in temperate zones. Many countries routinely vaccinate swine populations against swine influenza.
Swine influenza viruses are most commonly of the H1N1 subtype, but other subtypes are also circulating in pigs (e.g., H1N2, H3N1, H3N2). Pigs can also be infected with avian influenza viruses and human seasonal influenza viruses as well as swine influenza viruses. The H3N2 swine virus was thought to have been originally introduced into pigs by humans. Sometimes pigs can be infected with more than one virus type at a time, which can allow the genes from these viruses to mix. This can result in an influenza virus containing genes from a number of sources, called a "reassortant" virus. Although swine influenza viruses are normally species specific and only infect pigs, they do sometimes cross the species barrier to cause disease in humans.
What are the implications for human health?
Outbreaks and sporadic human infection with swine influenza have been occasionally reported. Generally clinical symptoms are similar to seasonal influenza but reported clinical presentation ranges broadly from asymptomatic infection to severe pneumonia resulting in death.
Since typical clinical presentation of swine influenza infection in humans resembles seasonal influenza and other acute upper respiratory tract infections, most of the cases have been detected by chance through seasonal influenza surveillance. Mild or asymptomatic cases may have escaped from recognition; therefore the true extent of this disease among humans is unknown.
Where have human cases occurred?
Since the implementation of IHR(2005)1 in 2007, WHO has been notified of swine influenza cases from the United States and Spain.
How do people become infected?
Humans usually contract swine influenza from infected pigs, however, some cases lack contact history with pigs or environments where pigs have been located. Human-to-human transmission has occurred in some instances but was limited to close contacts and closed groups of people.
Is it safe to eat pork and pork products?
Yes. Swine influenza has not been shown to be transmissible to people through eating properly handled and prepared pork (pig meat) or other products derived from pigs. The swine influenza virus is killed by cooking temperatures of 160°F/70°C, corresponding to the general guidance for the preparation of pork and other meat.
Which countries have been affected by outbreaks in pigs?
Swine influenza is not notifiable to international animal health authorities (OIE, http://www.oie.int/), therefore its international distribution in animals is not well known. The disease is considered endemic in the United States. Outbreaks in pigs are also known to have occurred in North America, South America, Europe (including the UK, Sweden, and Italy), Africa (Kenya), and in parts of eastern Asia including China and Japan.
What about the pandemic risk?
It is likely that most people, especially those who do not have regular contact with pigs, do not have immunity to swine influenza viruses that can prevent the virus infection. If a swine virus establishes efficient human-to human transmission, it can cause an influenza pandemic. The impact of a pandemic caused by such a virus is difficult to predict: it depends on virulence of the virus, existing immunity among people, cross protection by antibodies acquired from seasonal influenza infection and host factors.
Is there a human vaccine to protect against swine influenza?
There are no vaccines that contain the current swine influenza virus causing illness in humans. It is not known whether current human seasonal influenza vaccines can provide any protection. Influenza viruses change very quickly. It is important to develop a vaccine against the currently circulating virus strain for it to provide maximum protection to the vaccinated people. This is why WHO needs access to as many viruses as possible in order to select the most appropriate candidate vaccine virus.
What medicines are available for treatment?
There are two classes of such medicines, 1) adamantanes (amantadine and remantadine), and 2) inhibitors of influenza neuraminidase (oseltamivir and zanamivir).
Most of the previously reported swine influenza cases recovered fully from the disease without requiring medical attention and without antiviral medicines.
Some influenza viruses develop resistance to the antiviral medicines, limiting the effectiveness of treatment. The viruses obtained from the recent human cases with swine influenza in the United States are sensitive to oselatmivir and zanamivir but resistant to amantadine and remantadine.
Information is insufficient to make recommendations on the use of the antivirals in treatment of swine influenza virus infection. Clinicians should make decisions based on the clinical and epidemiological assessment and harms and benefits of the treatment of the patient2. For the ongoing outbreak of the swine influenza infection in the United States and Mexico, national and local authorities are recommending use oseltamivir or zanamivir for treatment of the disease based on the virus's susceptibility profile.
What should I do if I am in regular contact with pigs?
Even though there is no clear indication that the current human cases with swine influenza infection are related to recent or ongoing influenza-like disease events in pigs, it would be advisable to minimize contact with sick pigs and report such animals to relevant animal health authorities.
Most people are infected through prolonged, close contact with infected pigs. Good hygiene practices are essential in all contact with animals and are especially important during slaughter and post-slaughter handling to prevent exposure to disease agents. Sick animals or animals that died from disease should not be undergoing slaughtering procedures. Follow further advice from relevant national authorities.
Swine influenza has not been shown to be transmissible to people through eating properly handled and prepared pork (pig meat) or other products derived from pigs. The swine influenza virus is killed by cooking temperatures of 160°F/70°C corresponding to the general guidance for the preparation of pork and other meat.
How can I protect myself from getting swine influenza from infected people?
In the past, human infection with swine influenza was generally mild but is known to have caused severe illness such as pneumonia For the current outbreaks in the United States and Mexico however, the clinical pictures have been different. None of the confirmed cases in the United States have had the severe form of the disease and the patients recovered from illness without requiring medical care. In Mexico, some patients reportedly had the severe form of the disease.
To protect yourself, practice general preventive measures for influenza:
· Avoid close contact with people who appear unwell and who have fever and cough.
· Wash your hands with soap and water frequently and thoroughly.
· Practice good health habits including adequate sleep, eating nutritious food, and keeping physically active.
If there is an ill person at home:
· Try to provide the ill person a separate section in the house. If this is not possible, keep the patient at least 1 meter in distance from others.
· Cover mouth and nose when caring for the ill person. Masks can be bought commercially or made using the readily available materials as long as they are disposed of or cleaned properly.
· Wash your hands with soap and water thoroughly after each contact with the ill person.
· Try to improve the air flow in the area where the ill person stays. Use doors and windows to take advantage of breezes.
· Keep the environment clean with readily available household cleaning agents.
If you are living in a country where swine influenza has caused disease in humans, follow additional advice from national and local health authorities.
What should I do if I think I have swine influenza?
If you feel unwell, have high fever, cough and/or sore throat:
· Stay at home and keep away from work, school or crowds as much as possible.
· Rest and take plenty of fluids.
· Cover your mouth and nose with disposable tissues when coughing and sneezing and dispose of the used tissues properly.
· Wash your hands with soap and water frequently and thoroughly, especially after coughing or sneezing.
· Inform family and friends about your illness and seek help for household chores that require contact with other people such as shopping.
If you need medical attention:
· Contact your doctor or healthcare provider before travelling to see them and report your symptoms. Explain why you think you have swine influenza (for example, if you have recently travelled to a country where there is a swine influenza outbreak in humans). Follow the advice given to you for care.
· If it is not possible to contact your healthcare provider in advance, communicate your suspicion of having swine influenza immediately upon arrival at the healthcare facility.
· Take care to cover your nose and mouth during travel.
Ref: http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/faq/en/print.html
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ps:
However, personnel advice: “to eat pork is not advisable at this situation.”
Doctor’s suggestion: “Prefer vegetables in your food menu always and live healthy”.
Yours,
JM. Manilal
Swine influenza frequently asked questions
What is swine influenza?
Swine influenza, or "swine flu", is a highly contagious acute respiratory disease of pigs, caused by one of several swine influenza A viruses. Morbidity tends to be high and mortality low (1-4%). The virus is spread among pigs by aerosols, direct and indirect contact, and asymptomatic carrier pigs. Outbreaks in pigs occur year round, with an increased incidence in the autumn and winter in temperate zones. Many countries routinely vaccinate swine populations against swine influenza.
Swine influenza viruses are most commonly of the H1N1 subtype, but other subtypes are also circulating in pigs (e.g., H1N2, H3N1, H3N2). Pigs can also be infected with avian influenza viruses and human seasonal influenza viruses as well as swine influenza viruses. The H3N2 swine virus was thought to have been originally introduced into pigs by humans. Sometimes pigs can be infected with more than one virus type at a time, which can allow the genes from these viruses to mix. This can result in an influenza virus containing genes from a number of sources, called a "reassortant" virus. Although swine influenza viruses are normally species specific and only infect pigs, they do sometimes cross the species barrier to cause disease in humans.
What are the implications for human health?
Outbreaks and sporadic human infection with swine influenza have been occasionally reported. Generally clinical symptoms are similar to seasonal influenza but reported clinical presentation ranges broadly from asymptomatic infection to severe pneumonia resulting in death.
Since typical clinical presentation of swine influenza infection in humans resembles seasonal influenza and other acute upper respiratory tract infections, most of the cases have been detected by chance through seasonal influenza surveillance. Mild or asymptomatic cases may have escaped from recognition; therefore the true extent of this disease among humans is unknown.
Where have human cases occurred?
Since the implementation of IHR(2005)1 in 2007, WHO has been notified of swine influenza cases from the United States and Spain.
How do people become infected?
Humans usually contract swine influenza from infected pigs, however, some cases lack contact history with pigs or environments where pigs have been located. Human-to-human transmission has occurred in some instances but was limited to close contacts and closed groups of people.
Is it safe to eat pork and pork products?
Yes. Swine influenza has not been shown to be transmissible to people through eating properly handled and prepared pork (pig meat) or other products derived from pigs. The swine influenza virus is killed by cooking temperatures of 160°F/70°C, corresponding to the general guidance for the preparation of pork and other meat.
Which countries have been affected by outbreaks in pigs?
Swine influenza is not notifiable to international animal health authorities (OIE, http://www.oie.int/), therefore its international distribution in animals is not well known. The disease is considered endemic in the United States. Outbreaks in pigs are also known to have occurred in North America, South America, Europe (including the UK, Sweden, and Italy), Africa (Kenya), and in parts of eastern Asia including China and Japan.
What about the pandemic risk?
It is likely that most people, especially those who do not have regular contact with pigs, do not have immunity to swine influenza viruses that can prevent the virus infection. If a swine virus establishes efficient human-to human transmission, it can cause an influenza pandemic. The impact of a pandemic caused by such a virus is difficult to predict: it depends on virulence of the virus, existing immunity among people, cross protection by antibodies acquired from seasonal influenza infection and host factors.
Is there a human vaccine to protect against swine influenza?
There are no vaccines that contain the current swine influenza virus causing illness in humans. It is not known whether current human seasonal influenza vaccines can provide any protection. Influenza viruses change very quickly. It is important to develop a vaccine against the currently circulating virus strain for it to provide maximum protection to the vaccinated people. This is why WHO needs access to as many viruses as possible in order to select the most appropriate candidate vaccine virus.
What medicines are available for treatment?
There are two classes of such medicines, 1) adamantanes (amantadine and remantadine), and 2) inhibitors of influenza neuraminidase (oseltamivir and zanamivir).
Most of the previously reported swine influenza cases recovered fully from the disease without requiring medical attention and without antiviral medicines.
Some influenza viruses develop resistance to the antiviral medicines, limiting the effectiveness of treatment. The viruses obtained from the recent human cases with swine influenza in the United States are sensitive to oselatmivir and zanamivir but resistant to amantadine and remantadine.
Information is insufficient to make recommendations on the use of the antivirals in treatment of swine influenza virus infection. Clinicians should make decisions based on the clinical and epidemiological assessment and harms and benefits of the treatment of the patient2. For the ongoing outbreak of the swine influenza infection in the United States and Mexico, national and local authorities are recommending use oseltamivir or zanamivir for treatment of the disease based on the virus's susceptibility profile.
What should I do if I am in regular contact with pigs?
Even though there is no clear indication that the current human cases with swine influenza infection are related to recent or ongoing influenza-like disease events in pigs, it would be advisable to minimize contact with sick pigs and report such animals to relevant animal health authorities.
Most people are infected through prolonged, close contact with infected pigs. Good hygiene practices are essential in all contact with animals and are especially important during slaughter and post-slaughter handling to prevent exposure to disease agents. Sick animals or animals that died from disease should not be undergoing slaughtering procedures. Follow further advice from relevant national authorities.
Swine influenza has not been shown to be transmissible to people through eating properly handled and prepared pork (pig meat) or other products derived from pigs. The swine influenza virus is killed by cooking temperatures of 160°F/70°C corresponding to the general guidance for the preparation of pork and other meat.
How can I protect myself from getting swine influenza from infected people?
In the past, human infection with swine influenza was generally mild but is known to have caused severe illness such as pneumonia For the current outbreaks in the United States and Mexico however, the clinical pictures have been different. None of the confirmed cases in the United States have had the severe form of the disease and the patients recovered from illness without requiring medical care. In Mexico, some patients reportedly had the severe form of the disease.
To protect yourself, practice general preventive measures for influenza:
· Avoid close contact with people who appear unwell and who have fever and cough.
· Wash your hands with soap and water frequently and thoroughly.
· Practice good health habits including adequate sleep, eating nutritious food, and keeping physically active.
If there is an ill person at home:
· Try to provide the ill person a separate section in the house. If this is not possible, keep the patient at least 1 meter in distance from others.
· Cover mouth and nose when caring for the ill person. Masks can be bought commercially or made using the readily available materials as long as they are disposed of or cleaned properly.
· Wash your hands with soap and water thoroughly after each contact with the ill person.
· Try to improve the air flow in the area where the ill person stays. Use doors and windows to take advantage of breezes.
· Keep the environment clean with readily available household cleaning agents.
If you are living in a country where swine influenza has caused disease in humans, follow additional advice from national and local health authorities.
What should I do if I think I have swine influenza?
If you feel unwell, have high fever, cough and/or sore throat:
· Stay at home and keep away from work, school or crowds as much as possible.
· Rest and take plenty of fluids.
· Cover your mouth and nose with disposable tissues when coughing and sneezing and dispose of the used tissues properly.
· Wash your hands with soap and water frequently and thoroughly, especially after coughing or sneezing.
· Inform family and friends about your illness and seek help for household chores that require contact with other people such as shopping.
If you need medical attention:
· Contact your doctor or healthcare provider before travelling to see them and report your symptoms. Explain why you think you have swine influenza (for example, if you have recently travelled to a country where there is a swine influenza outbreak in humans). Follow the advice given to you for care.
· If it is not possible to contact your healthcare provider in advance, communicate your suspicion of having swine influenza immediately upon arrival at the healthcare facility.
· Take care to cover your nose and mouth during travel.
Ref: http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/faq/en/print.html
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ps:
However, personnel advice: “to eat pork is not advisable at this situation.”
Doctor’s suggestion: “Prefer vegetables in your food menu always and live healthy”.
Yours,
JM. Manilal
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