Amira Mohammed Ali
Senior
School of Life Sciences
Independent University, Bangladesh
23rd March, 2017
Senior
School of Life Sciences
Independent University, Bangladesh
23rd March, 2017
Influenza, commonly known as the "flu", is a disease caused by the influenza virus. The virus is known for its ability to cause pandemics, in which cases of the disease spread across multiple continent. The 1918 Spanish flu pandemic is estimated to have killed up to 50 million people. The virus has resulted in a few more pandemics since then, notably the 1957 pandemic that claimed around 4 million lives worldwide, and most recently the 2009 swine flu pandemic. Influenza virus has several subtypes, and is known to frequently produce new strains. It not only also has the ability to adapt through mutations or random changes in its genetic code, but can also exchange genes with other strains of influenza in cases where two or more strains infect the same individual. Seasonal influenza is very common and occurs every winter throughout the globe, and the new strains we see every year occur mostly as a result of accumulating mutations. The other mechanism of variation, in which exchange of genes can create new, unpredictable strains, resulted in the 2009 H1N1 pandemic strain which had never infected humans before. It was derived from an animal influenza strain, and different from the seasonal H1N1 strains that normally affect humans.
The first infection with this new strain is believed to have occurred in March 2009 in Mexico. Immediately after the first case, suddenly a number of these new H1N1 infection cases were rushed into many clinics across the country. The outbreak received increasing attention as the infection started to spread out to the northern parts of America. The CDC (Center for Disease Control) collected patient samples from infected people, and confirmed the emergence of the new strain. After few weeks of initial emergence of the new virus, it spread to 74 countries causing 29000 cases. The WHO (World Health Organization) declared it a global pandemic. The number of infected patients increased steeply as the winter approached globally.
The first infection with this new strain is believed to have occurred in March 2009 in Mexico. Immediately after the first case, suddenly a number of these new H1N1 infection cases were rushed into many clinics across the country. The outbreak received increasing attention as the infection started to spread out to the northern parts of America. The CDC (Center for Disease Control) collected patient samples from infected people, and confirmed the emergence of the new strain. After few weeks of initial emergence of the new virus, it spread to 74 countries causing 29000 cases. The WHO (World Health Organization) declared it a global pandemic. The number of infected patients increased steeply as the winter approached globally.
Intensity map of confirmed cases of 2009 swine-derived H1N1 influenza. Public domain
To tackle the infection, a huge number of antiviral drugs, Oseltamivir and Zanamivir, were released to treat the patients. When existing drug supplies were insufficient and sometimes ineffective in meeting the rapidly increasing demand for treatment, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) issued emergency use of previously unapproved antivirals and diagnostic tests for the H1N1 strain. Other measures were taken at that time to halt the spread, e.g. by monitoring airports.
After these efforts, the pandemic started to decline from May 2010 and in August 2010, the WHO declared that it was over. Even though the pandemic was over, it had taken more than 18,000 lives (laboratory confirmed) and made many more people sick globally. The WHO then declared a post-pandemic period where people received help to overcome the difficulties they had gone through. To help prevent any such pandemic in the future, the US government and private manufacturers have developed a vaccine in the form of injections (flu shots) and nasal spray, for swine-derived H1N1 influenza virus.
To tackle the infection, a huge number of antiviral drugs, Oseltamivir and Zanamivir, were released to treat the patients. When existing drug supplies were insufficient and sometimes ineffective in meeting the rapidly increasing demand for treatment, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) issued emergency use of previously unapproved antivirals and diagnostic tests for the H1N1 strain. Other measures were taken at that time to halt the spread, e.g. by monitoring airports.
After these efforts, the pandemic started to decline from May 2010 and in August 2010, the WHO declared that it was over. Even though the pandemic was over, it had taken more than 18,000 lives (laboratory confirmed) and made many more people sick globally. The WHO then declared a post-pandemic period where people received help to overcome the difficulties they had gone through. To help prevent any such pandemic in the future, the US government and private manufacturers have developed a vaccine in the form of injections (flu shots) and nasal spray, for swine-derived H1N1 influenza virus.
Amira is a wanderer and tries to understand the wonders of life. She wishes to have a lab of her own one day where she will unravel the mystery of life.
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