Swine Flu Panic is Unnecessary

Influenza claimed between 10 and 20 million lives throughout the world during the 1918-1919 pandemic.  The high death toll was caused mainly by secondary bacterial infections of pneumonia, against which there were no antibiotic defenses at the time. Although pneumonia, rather than the flu itself, is the more serious threat to the victim, antibiotics are available today to treat such complications.

The flu is transmitted through virus-laden moisture droplets expelled by coughing or sneezing. It can affect the respiratory tract anywhere from the nose and throat to the lungs. It is caused by a several viruses, usually classified as type A, B, or C and further divided into individual strains. The general population will usually take approximately ten years to develop immunity. The virus, however, will mutate and a new strain will emerge. This ability of the virus to mutate makes total immunization to the disease impossible.

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Swine flu is caused by the orthomyxovirus, which is thought to be the same virus that caused the 1918 pandemic. As previously mentioned, the high death toll was not caused by the flu, but by secondary bacterial pneumonia infections.

There seems to be some sort of panic developing about swine flu that is spreading even faster than the disease itself. The current outbreak is a variation of Type A influenza, subtype H1N1. It is transmitted from human to human and has not been found in pigs. Common flu is actually more serious and more deadly than swine flu. There have been relatively few cases of swine flu in comparison and fatalities are rare. According to an estimate by the Centers for Disease Control, approximately 36,000 Americans die every year from the common flu. So far, swine flu has claimed very few.

A similar situation occurred in 1976 when an Army recruit died from the disease. Doctors discovered that 500 soldiers were infected, but never became ill. Despite this knowledge, President Ford initiates a $135 million program to immunize 220 million Americans. Factored into his decision was a desire to win the election and the influence of large American drug manufacturers.

Within days of being inoculated, people started getting sick. Some elderly had heart attacks, some had neurological problems and hundreds filed a law suit against the government on behalf of children whose parents had died. Others developed Guillian-Barre syndrome, a condition associated with immunizations that causes pain an weakness in the extremities and may lead to paralyses. Other than supportive care, no treatment is available for Guillian-Barre.

Concern about swine flu is understandable, but let’s consider the situation rationally. Very few people have died from swine flu. Most fatalities are caused by secondary infections for which we have highly effective antibiotic treatments. Those who are at greatest risk are the elderly, the very young, and those with compromised immunity or unhealthy respiratory system. It makes sense to protect those most vulnerable, so take measures to keep them healthy. Provide a nutrient-rich diet and perhaps vitamin supplements. Ask your doctor about steps you can take to boost their immune system and avoid exposing them to those who may be infected.

Being concerned is normal, but the worst thing you can do is panic. With panic, there is the possibility of spreading a pandemic even more dangerous than swine flu; the pandemic of fear. Obviously, if someone is sick, we want to get them to a doctor as soon as possible. Early intervention is the key to containing the spread of any disease, especially those that are highly contagious. Considering the events of 1976, however, I would suggest that we proceed with caution.