Pandemics - H1N1 or swine flu COVID-19

As the world is battling Covid-19 in 2020, this is nothing new to us. For as long as we have existed, so have the microorganisms that cause these diseases in us, primarily bacteria and viruses.

Over the course of human history, we have dealt with and overcame a number of major outbreaks, some of which took a bigger toll than the others. We managed to combat them, sometimes after we paid a hefty price, but considering that the nature and life cycles of these viruses and bacteria causing these outbreak is different, we are mostly dealing with novel strains so new to us that we do not have a single weapon to fight back right from the get go. This is an important aspect of these outbreaks to keep in mind because they are all either slightly or a lot different from the previous one especially when it comes to the way that it is transmitted to the other, its fatality rate and whether or not a vaccine can be developed to combat it fast enough.

One of these diseases is H1N1 also known as the swine flu.

A novel H1N1 strain showed up and started making its rounds in 2009. This was a novel strain which means that we did not have a vaccine already developed and at hand to prevent it from spreading. Also, because this was a new strain, us humans had no immunity to fight it off. Work on the development of the vaccine began immediately in 2009 and by December of 2009 it became available.

H1N1 is referred to as the swine flu or the pig flu because it occurs on pigs most commonly and is caused by the Influenza A type virus. Although very rare, the transmission from pigs to humans is possible and in most cases, only causes the production of antibodies but in this case it caused an influenza. Those who had continued exposure to the pigs were at the highest risk of contracting the swine flu. When it comes to the consumption meat from infected pigs, it is not possible for the virus to be transferred if the meat if cooked thoroughly and properly.

The virus was found to contain a genetic blend of four flu viruses including the ones that cause the North American swine flu, North American avian, human flu and swine.

But by the time that we were able to develop a vaccine, coupled with the existing antiviral medication to help and speed up the recovery of those affected, H1N1 claimed almost 250,000 lives worldwide. In total, it infected 25% of the world population.

The symptoms of H1N1 were similar to those of other infections such as body ache, cough, fever and chills. As opposed to other types of flu, H1N1 affected children significantly. Mostly with such infections, it is senior population.

The H1N1 pandemic was declared contained and over in the summer of 2010. Howeve there were smaller outbreak in various countries from 2015-2020:

2015 in India: 31,000 people affected and 1,900 deaths

2017 in the Maldives: 187 people affected and 4 deaths.

2017 in Burma: 30 people affected and 6 deaths.

2019 in Pakistan: 42 deaths.

2019 in Morocco: 9 deaths.

2017 in Iran: 56 deaths.

We all have a role to play in times of pandemics. Avoiding unnecessary travel and contact especially with those who have a compromised immune system such as seniors and people with underlying medical conditions is highly advised. Because vaccines take a while to come along during a pandemic, social distance could be a great way to allow the virus die down before it is spread further.