Health Minister Jeon Jae-hee monitors a thermal monitor installed to detect travelers with high temperatures at Incheon International Airport quarantine desk Tuesday. The health authorities strengthened quarantine at the airport after a report that a Korean woman who recently returned from Mexico is suspected of having contracted swine flu. / Yonhap |
By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter
Fears of swine flu are sweeping the nation after health authorities reported the first suspected domestic case of the deadly disease here, Tuesday. The death toll from the flu variant has reached more than 150 in Mexico ― although only 20 have been confirmed ― and the outbreak is spreading globally to the United States, New Zealand and Europe.
However, authorities say the disease is preventable using accurate knowledge and the willingness to take preventative measures. The following is information from the Korea Center for Disease Control and Management (KCDC).
Vaccine and Treatments
The KCDC has issued an alert at all airports and other access points to the country, warning travelers to take extra precautions.
As yet, it is unknown whether there is a vaccine that could halt the spread of the disease, but the agency has 2.6 million doses of Tamiflu and Relenza antiviral drugs in stock. The U.S. government is also recommending these treatments.
Antiviral drugs are prescription medication delivered orally, by injection or through inhalers that prevent viruses from reproducing in the body.
Preventive Measures?
The best method is prevention. 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 hand cleaners are also effective.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
Also, try to avoid close contact with sick people. If you feel sick, the government recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
Also refrain from visiting countries reporting outbreaks of the epidemic such as Mexico. The U.S. government issued a travel advisory Monday discouraging nonessential travel there, and the Korean government is also reportedly considering issuing one.
What Are the Symptoms?
The symptoms are similar to those of regular flu including fever, cough, sore throat, an aching body, headache, chills and fatigue, while some have reported diarrhea and vomiting. Like seasonal flu, swine flu may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions, the authorities say.
The KCDC has issued an advisory telling people feeling such symptoms after an overseas trip to report to the nearest public health care center for a thorough examination.
How Is It Transmitted?
The spread of this swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is happening in the same way that seasonal flu spreads ― by airborne dispersal and contact, mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing by infected people. Touching something with the virus on it and then touching their mouth or nose may infect some people.
The center notes that infected people may be able to infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to seven or more days afterward. That means that you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are ill, as well as while you are sick.
The virus is destroyed when pork is cooked at temperatures over 70 degrees Celsius, which means nearly all cooked dishes are safe to eat.
What Is Swine Flu?
According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control, swine influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses that causes regular outbreaks among livestock. People do not normally get it, but human infections can and do happen.
In late March and early April 2009, cases of human infection with swine influenza A (H1N1) viruses were first reported in Southern California and near San Antonio, Texas. It became evident that the disease had started out in Mexico, where thousands of people were infected with the virus and about 150 are thought to have died of it.
The CDC has not yet determined if this virus is contagious and whether there is a risk of a pandemic.
bjs@koreatimes.co.kr
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무디스, 스페인·伊·포르투갈 신용등급 강등
