The outbreak of H1N1 flu virus has caused quite an uproar in the press and people are concerned.

The virus is a never-before-seen combination of human, swine and avian influenza virus, that has been called swine flu in the press.
According to Tom Vilsack, USDA Secretary, “this really isn’t swine flu” since no swine in the Unites States has been affected by the virus.

So it is no more swine flu than avian flu, or human flu. It is a new virus.

The number of human cases confirmed is increasing dramatically; as of April 26 the Center for Disease Control reported 20 confirmed cases in the United States. By May 6, 642 cases had been confirmed; five in Ohio. As with most influenza viruses, experts say the virus could come in waves and once the first round has slowed, a second wave could be expected.

We have had three outbreaks of pandemic influenza in the past 90 years. A pandemic is a global disease outbreak. To put this in perspective, in 1918-19 there were 675,000 cases of flu reported in the Unites States and 50 million worldwide. In 1957-58, there were 70,000 cases in the United States and between 1 and 2 million worldwide. In 1968-1969 there were 34,000 cases in the United States and more than 700,000 worldwide.

A flu pandemic can occur when a new virus emerges for which there is no vaccine and for which people have not developed immunity. Officials are concerned because this is a new virus so there is no vaccine or immunity; it spreads from human to human; it affects all age groups and unlike seasonal flu, it affects healthy young adults. It continues to change or evolve thus the waves of outbreaks.

There are a number of things you can do to prepare, but those have nothing to do with you staying away from pork. It has never been a good idea to be in a pig kissing contest and that has not changed. In fact, it might be dangerous for the pig since it is believed a herd in Canada was infected by a person who had been to Mexico and became ill with flu symptoms.

According to the World Health Organization, the World Organization for Animal Health, the United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Health and Human Services, and Homeland Security, the virus cannot be contracted by handling or eating pork products.

Just go to www.pandemicflu.gov; there is a wealth of information which you should have in your possession. Also, the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov has great information.

According to the CDC website, the virus is spread from person to person by coughing, sneezing or by touching something an infected person has touched.

So prevention is the same as for seasonal flu or common colds.
Cough or sneeze into tissue and throw it away.
Wash, wash, and wash your hands with soap and hot water. Use waterless hand sanitizers when hot water is not available. If you feel ill, stay away from others.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Steve Bartels may write to him in care of this publication.