Download The following is a Flu Primer for newspapers covering the Swine Flu

The following is a Flu Primer for newspapers covering the Swine Flu
issue, courtesy of The Canadian Press Health Editor, Anne Tobin:
Flu terms
H1N1: a family of influenza A viruses, which includes the current swine flu virus as well as
the H1N1 that caused the Spanish flu of 1918.
Pandemic 2009 H1N1, also known as swine flu: Swine flu is a respiratory illness
caused by this particular H1N1 virus. It isn’t clear when it started circulating in humans, but
it was first detected in people in Mexico and the United States in April of 2009.
Vaccine: Injection that contains dead virus to prompt the creation of antibodies and
provoke an immune response in the body.
Adjuvants: Compounds that boost the immune system's response to vaccine, allowing
smaller doses to be used per person.
Unadjuvanted vaccine: Vaccine without boosting additives. 1.8 million doses of
unadjuvanted vaccine will be available in Canada for pregnant women and children under
three.
Antivirals: Drugs that can be used 24-48 hours after onset of flu symptoms to lessen
severity and duration of illness in normal flu. In cases where people are hospitalized with
severe flu, doctors will give antivirals even after the 48-hour window. These drugs are also
sometimes taken as a prophylaxis to prevent flu in people who may have been or may be
exposed to the virus.
Two antivirals are effective for use against swine flu:
--Tamiflu (oseltamivir) made by Switzerland's Roche Holding AG (pill form)
--Relenza (zanamivir) made by GlaxoSmithKline PLC (Inhaled powder)
Signs of Serious Illness
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control says the following signs may be seen in a swine flu
patient taking a turn for the worst, and such a patient should seek medical care
immediately.
Children: Fast or troubled breathing; skin turning bluish; not drinking enough fluids; being
unusually hard to wake up or not interacting; being so irritable that the child doesn’t want
to be held, flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough; fever
with a rash.
Adults: Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath; pain or pressure in the chest or
abdomen; severe or persistent vomiting; sudden dizziness; confusion.
Key players
Leona Aglukkaq - federal health minister
Dr. David Butler-Jones - chief public health officer of Canada
Dr. Marie-Paule Kieny - head of World Health Organization vaccine research initiative
Websites
Public Health Agency of Canada: fightflu.ca or
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/alert-alerte/h1n1/index-eng.php
U.S. Centers for Disease Control: http://www.flu.gov
World Health Organization: http://www.who.int/csr/don/2009_10_02/en/index.html
Interactive website that may help you decide if flu is bad enough to see a doctor:
http://www.h1n1responsecenter.com.
Twitter: CP_Branswell – Medical Reporter Helen Branswell of The Canadian Press tweets on
latest flu developments