No Vaccine to Battle Swine Flu Sweeping Mexico and
into U.S.; Annual Flu Shot Won't Work
CDC sets up Web pages with latest information as
Public Health Emergency declared
April 27, 2009 At this point there is not a
vaccine for this swine flu strain. It's a new strain of influenza, said
Dr. Richard Besser, Acting Director, Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, at a news conference Sunday. And so what we're talking
about is whether it's warranted at this point to move toward
manufacturing a vaccine.
There is currently no vaccine available to prevent
the swine flu strain sweeping Mexico and moving into the U.S., according
to Dr. Richard Besser, Acting Director, Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. He said, too, the decision has not been made to move toward
manufacturing a vaccine.
Dr. Bresser said anyone ill with flu-like symptoms
needs to contact their doctor and determine what type testing and
treatment is needed.
At the news conference hosted by Home Land
Security, yesterday, Besser added, There are a number of things that we
look at going into the decision as to whether to make a vaccine. One is
the severity of the strain, its sustainability in the community; do we
anticipate that it's a virus that will be here next flu season so you
want to prepare for that.
He said work has begun to prepare, in case the
vaccine is needed. He said, We've created that seed stock, we've
identified that virus, and discussions are underway so that should we
decide to work on manufacturing a vaccine, we can work towards that goal
very quickly.
Then there are issues in terms of production.
Currently manufacturers are working on seasonal flu vaccine for next
season, which has three types of influenza virus or influenza antigen
in it. We have to have discussions to determine could they add a fourth;
would it require substituting or changing production in another way?
All of those discussions are underway, so that if
there's a decision to move in that direction we'd be ready.
The swine flu, which is spreading rapidly across
Mexico and into the U.S., is as are all influenza of particular
danger to senior citizens, who often suffer most from these diseases.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has launched several Web
pages providing news and information about the swine flu, which has been
declared a Public Health Emergency, and has promised to keep Americans
informed of the latest developments.
The transcript of the Homeland Security news
briefing on Sunday is available -
Click here . The speakers included Dr. Besser and the following:
Secretary Janet Napolitano, Department of Homeland
Security
John Brennan, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and
Counterterrorism
Robert Gibbs, White House Press Secretary
Determination that a Public Health Emergency Exists
Yesterday, the Acting Secretary of Health & Human
Services, Charles E. Johnson, said, As a consequence of confirmed
cases of Swine Influenza A (swH1N1) in California, Texas, Kansas, and
New York, on this date and after consultation with public health
officials as necessary, I... do hereby determine that a public health
emergency exists nationwide involving Swine Influenza A that affects or
has significant potential to affect national security."
The CDC, an agency of HHS, is actively
investigating isolated human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) in
several states (CA, TX, OH, KS, NY) and is working closely with Canada
and Mexico and with the WHO. The CDC is continuously updating
investigation information
What You Can Do to Stay Healthy
There are everyday actions people can take to stay
healthy.
● Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when
you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
● Wash your hands often with soap and water,
especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are
also effective.
● Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs
spread that way.
Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
● Influenza is thought to spread mainly
person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.
● If you get sick, CDC recommends that you stay
home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from
infecting them
The home page for the information being provided by
the CDC can be found by
clicking here.
More general information about Swine influenza can
be found clicking
here. This page has the following links:
Swine Influenza: General Information
>>
Swine Flu and You
What is swine flu? Are there human infections with swine flu in the
U.S.?
>>
Swine Flu Video Podcast Apr 25, 2009
Dr. Joe Bresee, with the CDC Influenza Division, describes swine flu -
its signs and symptoms, how it's transmitted, medicines to treat it,
steps people can take to protect themselves from it, and what people
should do if they become ill.
>>
Key Facts about Swine Influenza (Swine Flu) Apr 24, 2009, 5:45 PM
EDT
How does swine flu spread? Can people catch swine flu from eating pork?
>>
Swine Influenza in Pigs and People
Brochure
>>
Informaciσn en espaρol
Datos importantes sobre la influenza porcina
Pandemic Flu
The U.S. government also maintains a Pandemic Flu
Website, which is not carrying information about the swine flu outbreak.
Click Here
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization of the United Nations
is also tracking the swine flu outbreak.
Click Here
What You Should Do
As with any infectious disease, CDC recommends that
people should take
everyday preventive actions.
