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Influenza A: Facts and Myths
In the current information age, there is no subject that your average citizen cannot become informed about. You need only search the internet, watch television news broadcasts or exchange information with family and friends. Although this is a positive thing, it is not uncommon for data to become confused and for us to hear incorrect or incomplete information, taking it to be true. The problem is that we are supplied with so much information that we end up with a false awareness of certain issues. Fear, of course, helps us to unconsciously select only what concerns us, what we think is most useful to our survival.
The H1N1 pandemic is symptomatic of this phenomenon. Perhaps if official bodies did not merely issue endless instructions, but rather explained the practical sense behind them, there would have been less confusion.
Let us look at some of the issues that have raised the most doubts among the population at large.
- Masks
Most of the masks on sale at pharmacies do not offer effective protection against the virus. Their objective is not to protect from contagion, but rather to prevent an infected person spreading the virus until they can remove themselves to a suitable quarantine location. The mad rush to the pharmacy in search of masks is thus pointless. Of course they offer some protection, but do not expect to be 100% safe from infection by using a surgical mask on public transport. The masks that do offer that kind of protection are not usually sold at pharmacies and are considerably more expensive.
- Means of infection
The virus does not circulate in the air. It can be transmitted through the air. It is found in the respiratory system of infected people, and is expelled through sneezing or coughing.. It can survive for around eight hours outside the human body on the surfaces onto which it has made contact. The use of latex gloves is an effective barrier, as long as people remember not to touch their mouth, nose or eyes with the gloves. These should be disposed of after use and never reused.
- The vaccine
We cannot forget that a vaccine contains the actual virus against which we are seeking protection, but in a much weakened state in order to teach the body to fight it. There will always be cases of allergic reactions to the vaccine. However, the risks are minimal compared to the benefits if all production, transport and administration procedures are followed correctly. There are NO data to support the thought that the vaccine for seasonal flu protects against this new strain.
- At-risk groups
Pregnant women and children will be the main recipients of this vaccine. There are NO data to prove that the elderly are immune to the illness!
- Transmission rate
Current data does not allow us to say if this particular flu spreads more easily than any other. Seasonal flu is also relatively easily transmitted. What we must not forget is that if more people are infected, these will in turn infect more, who will infect more and so on, in a vicious circle.
- Danger
People have forgotten that this is a type of flu. Every year, seasonal flu kills around 2,000 people in Portugal. Everything seems to indicate that this strain is more aggressive, but the data do not allow us to confirm this. What we do know is that those with depressed immune systems and those carrying illnesses are more susceptible to stronger reactions to the illness, which may result in death. There are few cases of serious complications from the flu in health individuals.
- Hospitals
In Portugal, people are advised NOT to go to hospital. A number is available for the reporting of suspected cases - 808 24 24 24. Those who are potentially infected should remain at home. If needed, a special unit will be sent to the home of the infected person in order to transfer them safely to a hospital.
- Hygiene
It is important to wash your hands regularly, especially after coughing or sneezing. Experts advise that we should not sneeze into our hands, as this is likely to further spread the virus across surfaces. It is recommended we use paper tissues, which should then be discarded. Disinfectants that do not require water may be used in situations where it is not possible to wash your hands, but some experts say that the prolonged use of these products could reduce the immune response to certain micro-organisms. As long as done properly whenever possible, washing hands with soap and water is sufficient. Take care to turn the tap off using a paper towel.
- Companies
Companies have already prepared contingency plans in case their employees are infected, including isolation of the potentially infected person and cleaning of their workspace. Given that we are currently in a season of the year when there are many allergens in the air, there is no need to panic because your colleague sitting next to you sneezes. We just have to follow the principles of hygiene, by sneezing or coughing into disposable tissues. This illness is marked by the sudden appearance of a high fever above 38°C. For this reason, it is advisable for every company to keep a thermometer, which should be disinfected after each use.
- The symptoms
- Fever
- Respiratory symptoms (cough, blocked nose)
- Sore throat
- Other possible symptoms:
- Aching body or muscles
- Headache
- Shivers
- Fatigue
- Vomiting or diarrhoea. These symptoms are not common for seasonal flu, but have been recorded in certain cases of influenza A. These are the only symptoms which allow us to differentiate it from seasonal flu.
Experts have already warned that the most critical phase of the flu in Portugal will arrive in the autumn with colder and more virus-friendly temperatures. Our contribution to mitigating the spread of the illness should include abiding by the rules that are issued by local and national health authorities. Cases of people organising parties with infected persons in order to become infected as well, or people who try to purposefully infect others, only reveal their ignorance. There is no data to suggest that being infected once can prevent further infection. In fact, the most infuriating feature of this flu is our lack of knowledge about it. Nobody knows to what extent it may be dangerous, but we all know that it is better to be safe than sorry.
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