Swine flu is a viral disease caused by a new type of influenza virus that has never circulated before in humans. The new virus was first detected in the USA in April 2009. The virus was initially called swine flu because it is genetically very similar to viruses that normally cause flu in swine.
Symptoms of swine flu are similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Diarrhea and vomiting have also been reported in a number of individuals.
Is swine flu H1N1 similar to seasonal flu?
Seasonal flu occurs every year but many individuals have some immunity against it which protects them from getting sick. Vaccines against seasonal flu are available in many countries. The swine flu virus on the other hand is an entirely new agent against which most of us have little or no immunity.
Is swine flu H1N1 contagious?
Yes, the virus is contagious and is spreading from person to person. It appears to be as contagious as seasonal influenza and is spreading fast among young people (from ages 10 to 45).
How does swine flu H1N1 virus spread?
Swine flu spreads from human to human in much the same way as seasonal flu. You can get infected if you inhale droplets expelled by an infected person during coughing or sneezing. Since the expelled droplets can also contaminate hands and other surfaces, you may also become infected by touching a contaminated surface and then touching your mouth or nose.
Can I get swine flu H1N1 from eating?
No, swine flu virus does not spread through food. It is safe to eat properly handled and cooked pork. The flu virus is killed by cooking temperatures of 160°F/70°C, which is commonly used for cooking meat.
How severe is the disease caused by swine flu H1N1?
The severity of disease ranges from very mild symptoms to severe diseases that can result in death. A large proportion of individuals who get infected with the virus experience mild disease and recover without hospitalization or antiviral treatment.
Who is at risk of severe swine flu disease?
Pregnant women, individuals with previously recognized medical conditions that increase the risk of flu-related complications such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease and those with weak immune systems are more likely to experience severe disease caused by flu infection.
How to protect youself and your family against swine flu H1N1?
First of all, vaccinate against A (H1N1). You can protect yourself from getting infected by avoiding close contact (minimum distance of about one meter if possible) with individuals who have flu-like symptoms. Plus, the next measures can protect you:
1. avoid crowded places or reduce the time spent in crowded places
2. improve ventilation by opening windows at home or at your job
3. avoid touching your mouth and nose
4. wash hands thoroughly with soap and water, or use an alcohol-based hand rub several times in a day
5. maintain general good heath, get adequate sleep, eat nutritious food, and stay physically active
Monday, 18 January 2010
Tuesday, 1 December 2009
Bronchitis
An individual, who with the advent of cold has began to cough not even once, is a happy man! Other individuals should find out the cause of his cough which may be a symptom of many different diseases. Every second individual is diagnosed with bronchitis. Bronchitis can be acute or chronic, and depending on its type doctor prescribes a particular treatment. Although phrase “acute bronchitis” sounds quite horrible, in fact, doctors fight it quite successfully.
If you are already ill, main treatment is to remove acute symptoms such as temperature, pains, etc. You should help your body to fight the disease. It is necessary to stay in the bed for a week, gargle, drink hot drinks and take Vitamin C. It would be good to make inhalations with alcalinous mineral waters that may help wet to get removed. You should forget about inhalations with potato peels and oily solutions as they may harm your body.
Workaholics should forget about their job. Going seek at the job may result in bronchopneumonitis which should be treated not at home but at the hospital. If “creative resources” did not brought cough relief and did not removed temperature in three days then you should call for a doctor. Probably, the disease has passed into a new stage and it needs a special treatment.
This often happens when acute bronchitis provokes manifestation of chronic one which is caused not just by viruses but also by bacterias. It is wrong to think that chronic bronchitis is untreated acute bronchitis. In fact, chronic bronchitis is an independent disease caused by cigarette smoke, exhaust, industrial wastes that we inhale. If you inhale those wastes every day then natural sputum discharge is lowered. The mechanism of bronchus self-purification is broken and as a result the infection is doesn't mat any resistance and so bronchus are damaged.
An individual may live and not know about developing disease. The treatment of chronic bronchitis is very long and recovery half-way depends on the discipline of the patient. Patient has to constantly take different medications such as expectorants, antiinflammatory drugs, immunomodulators, and in some cases is used bronchus sputum removal with special devise – this method is called therapeutic bronchoscopy.
When chronic bronchitis it is important to make remedial gymnastics, respiratory gymnastics, chest message. Do not think that if you have chronic bronchitis then mucosa disorders may be restored. For example, epithelium of smokers may be restored in 10 years. If the number of contagious recrudescence may be reduced annually, some medications may be called off. The disease itself will not disappear but several symptoms will be removed.
Saturday, 14 November 2009
Viruses in Potatoes
Potato Virus Y
Potato virus Y , one of the most important plant viruses affecting potato production. PVY infection of potato plants results in a variety of symptoms depending on the viral strain. The mildest symptoms is causing production loss, the most serious is called 'potato tuber necrotic ringspot disease' (PTNRD) which is transmitted by aphid vectors.
Potato virus Y , one of the most important plant viruses affecting potato production. PVY infection of potato plants results in a variety of symptoms depending on the viral strain. The mildest symptoms is causing production loss, the most serious is called 'potato tuber necrotic ringspot disease' (PTNRD) which is transmitted by aphid vectors.
Potato leafroll virus
Potato leafroll virus infects potato and is a particular problem in the USA. During the summer, the virus is spread by insects and by the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae. During the winter months the viruses lie dormant in the plants and are the primary source of new infections of other plants in the next year. The symptoms of this disease include a slight curling of new leaves and the leaves become discolored, ranging from a light green through yellow to red and the underside of the leaves turns purple. The disease will reduced the yields and quality of the potato crops but not killing plant.
Potato mop top virus
The Potato mop top virus (PMTV) is a pomovirus vectored by the fungus Spongospora subterrenea, which causes powdery scab of potato. The virus can be found in scab spore-balls and can remain viable in the field up to 18 years without the host. Symptoms of PMTV vary depending on environmental conditions. The symptoms may include yellow rings, V shape markings, and blotches, especially on the lower leaves. Stems may also be stunted, giving a “mop top” effect.
Tobacco rattle virus
Tobacco rattle virus (TRV) is a Tobravirus which causes corky ringspot or spraing disease. Often found in sandy soils. Symptoms often do not appear on the foliage, but the tuber contains corky layers of tissue interspersed with rings of healthy tissue and brown flecks distributed throughout the tuber. This virus is transmitted by 'stubby-root' nematodes .
Transmission of Plant Viruses
Transmission
Sap
Viruses can be spread by direct transfer of sap by contact of a wounded plant with a healthy one. Such contact may occur during agricultural practices, as by damage caused by tools or hands, or naturally, as by an animal feeding on the plant. Generally TMV, potato viruses and cucumber mosaic viruses are transmitted via sap.
Insects
Plant viruses need to be transmitted by a vector, most often insects such as leafhoppers. The chosen insect vector of a plant virus will often be the determining factor in that virus's host range. Plant virus are classified as non-persistent, semi-persistent and persiste depending on the different ways of transmission by insects.
Green peach aphid Myzus persicae, the vector of many plant viruses, including Potato virus Y.
- Sap
- Insects
- Nematodes
Sap
Viruses can be spread by direct transfer of sap by contact of a wounded plant with a healthy one. Such contact may occur during agricultural practices, as by damage caused by tools or hands, or naturally, as by an animal feeding on the plant. Generally TMV, potato viruses and cucumber mosaic viruses are transmitted via sap.
Insects
Plant viruses need to be transmitted by a vector, most often insects such as leafhoppers. The chosen insect vector of a plant virus will often be the determining factor in that virus's host range. Plant virus are classified as non-persistent, semi-persistent and persiste depending on the different ways of transmission by insects.
Green peach aphid Myzus persicae, the vector of many plant viruses, including Potato virus Y.
Hoppers transmit viruses from several genera.
Micrutalis malleifera, the treehopper vector of Tomato pseudo-curly top virus.
Nematodes
Soil-borne nematodes also have been shown to transmit viruses. They acquire and transmit them by feeding on infected roots. The virions attach to the stylet or to the gut when they feed on an infected plant and can then unattach during later feeding to infect other plants. Example of viruses that can be transmitted by nematodes includes tobacco rattle virus.
Adult female of Paratrichodorus pachydermus, the vector of Tobacco rattle virus.
Plant Viral Structures
Virus Shapes
Viruses are extremely small and can only be observed with an electron microscope.
Over 50% of known plant viruses are rod-shaped. The second most common structure amongst plant viruses are isometric particles.
Tobacco mosaic virus, the length is about 300-500 nm with a diameter 15-20 nm.
Viruses are extremely small and can only be observed with an electron microscope.
Over 50% of known plant viruses are rod-shaped. The second most common structure amongst plant viruses are isometric particles.
Tobacco mosaic virus, the length is about 300-500 nm with a diameter 15-20 nm.
Tobacco necrosis virus A, diameter varies from 40-50 nm in diameter
Cocoa swollen shoot virus, genus Badnavirus [largest size is 30 nm wide and 300 nm long]
Viruses in Plants
Plant Viruses
Plant viruses are viruses affecting plants. They are less well known than bacteril and animal viruses, even though viruses were originally identified and isolated from tobacco plants. Plant viruses infect many food crops, including corn, beans, tobacco and the most popular in the world, potatoes, viruses resulting billions of dollars in losses each year. Viruses of plants are introduced into plant cells either through abrasions of the cell wall or by plant parasites such as nematodes and aphids.
The first virus to be discovered was Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV). This and other viruses cause an estimated US$60 billion loss in crop yields worldwide each year. The TMV viruses are most frequently used as research in plant molecular biology today.
There are over 2000 known viruses and about 1/4 of these known viruses cause diseases in plants. Plant viruses are grouped into 73 genera and 49 families.
Plant viruses are viruses affecting plants. They are less well known than bacteril and animal viruses, even though viruses were originally identified and isolated from tobacco plants. Plant viruses infect many food crops, including corn, beans, tobacco and the most popular in the world, potatoes, viruses resulting billions of dollars in losses each year. Viruses of plants are introduced into plant cells either through abrasions of the cell wall or by plant parasites such as nematodes and aphids.
The first virus to be discovered was Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV). This and other viruses cause an estimated US$60 billion loss in crop yields worldwide each year. The TMV viruses are most frequently used as research in plant molecular biology today.
There are over 2000 known viruses and about 1/4 of these known viruses cause diseases in plants. Plant viruses are grouped into 73 genera and 49 families.
Saturday, 7 November 2009
Viruses in Plots
Viruses have fascinated and frightened us all. That ability has made them popular in creating science fiction for novels and movies. Such notable examples are listed here.
Movies:
1) "Outbreak" - click here to read interview with Dr. Murphy
Novels:
Title Medusa : A novel from the NUMA files / Clive Cussler ; with Paul Kemprecos.
Author: Cussler, Clive.
Summary: Kurt Austin puts the NUMAA team on a case involving a hideous series of medical experiments, an extraordinarily ambitious Chinese criminal organization, and a secret new virus that threatens to set off a worldwide pandemic.
[From: http://catalogue.nlb.gov.sg]
Movies:
1) "Outbreak" - click here to read interview with Dr. Murphy
Novels:
Title Medusa : A novel from the NUMA files / Clive Cussler ; with Paul Kemprecos.
Author: Cussler, Clive.
Summary: Kurt Austin puts the NUMAA team on a case involving a hideous series of medical experiments, an extraordinarily ambitious Chinese criminal organization, and a secret new virus that threatens to set off a worldwide pandemic.
[From: http://catalogue.nlb.gov.sg]
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