Human swine flu is in town

[Guest guest]

Dear group,

 

It is a standard term used in the media of Hong Kong because the flu contains

the genes from avian, swine, and humans. It is contagious among humans now. I

just heard from the news that the governor of Hong Kong has announced the

temporary closing down all primary and secondary schooling for 2 weeks to

prevent the further spread of this flu. This flu has had extensive exposure in

over 40 countries and WHO is likely to raise the red flag at the highest degree

soon.

 

I did not see much guard or red flags raised here in North America. I only know

the aboriginals are hit the most with few dozens cases confirmed. I wonder what

strategies the pillars of the TCM community here in North America have to face

this challenge. Or the tcm scholars take this opportunity to educate the general

public what they can benefit from Chinese medicine.

 

The SARS in Hong Kong in 2003 was a bloom for tcm practitioners and herbal

shops. I was told the number of patients visit went up 60% plus in average for a

while and brought a lot of positive publicity and exposure to Chinese medicine

among the public. Wonder what changes or impact this flu has for our colleagues

around the world?

 

SUNG, Yuk-ming

[Guest guest]

, " sxm2649 " <sxm2649 wrote:

>

> Dear group,

>

> It is a standard term used in the media of Hong Kong because the flu contains

the genes from avian, swine, and humans. It is contagious among humans now. I

just heard from the news that the governor of Hong Kong has announced the

temporary closing down all primary and secondary schooling for 2 weeks to

prevent the further spread of this flu. This flu has had extensive exposure in

over 40 countries and WHO is likely to raise the red flag at the highest degree

soon.

>

> I did not see much guard or red flags raised here in North America. I only

know the aboriginals are hit the most with few dozens cases confirmed. I wonder

what strategies the pillars of the TCM community here in North America have to

face this challenge. Or the tcm scholars take this opportunity to educate the

general public what they can benefit from Chinese medicine.

>

> The SARS in Hong Kong in 2003 was a bloom for tcm practitioners and herbal

shops. I was told the number of patients visit went up 60% plus in average for a

while and brought a lot of positive publicity and exposure to Chinese medicine

among the public. Wonder what changes or impact this flu has for our colleagues

around the world?

>

> SUNG, Yuk-ming

 

To Mr. Sung and the group

After reading an excellent book about the 1918-1919 flu pandemic, The Great

Influenza by John M. Barry, I have kept an eye on news stories about the threat

of the H5N1 avian flu and the recent H1N1 swine flu. Yesterday, listening to the

PBS television news program, Lehrer News Hour, there was an interview with the-General of the WHO, Margaret Chan.

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/health/jan-june09/pandemic_06-10.html

 

The H1N1 influenza virus was elevated to world-wide pandemic status after

sweeping into 70 countries in 6 weeks. There have been fatalities and

complications of infection within groups of individuals aged 30-55, those who

are pregnant and those with pre-existing medical conditions. Otherwise the swine

flu is considered relatively mild for it's symptoms but, also highly

transmissible. The Director-General of WHO revealed that the larger concern is

for a cross mutation of H1N1 with the more lethal but less transmissible H5N1.

 

The influenza virus has the well-studied ability to mutate into a more virulent

and lethal form over time. The virus is presently in the winter flu season of

the southern hemisphere where such an alteration is possible. However, the virus

has the more concerning ability to recombine genetic material in a single

species or person when one has been infected with both viruses- H1N1 and H5N1.

Remember last year when the flocks of migrating water fowl carried the avian flu

from east Asia to Europe and Turkey? That would be the perfect storm by which

one influenza type is brought in contact and recombines with another. While that

scenario has not yet materialized, the WHO and governments like in Hong Kong are

going so far as to shut down public institutions for 2 weeks to intercede and

reduce the chances of it happening.

 

Not to be overly dramatic but, according to the book referenced earlier, the

1919 influenza pandemic generally ran it's course of infection within a

community or large population center within 6-8 weeks. That would be the minimum

target period for one's inventory of supplies- medical or food/ survival should

such a dangerous virus emerge.

 

Mark Fitzpatrick

>

[Guest guest]

I agree with Mark that the move of the Hong Kong government is rather drastic.

It is understandable though if we put ourselves in their shoes. It is a

overcrowded place of barely over 4oo sq miles inhabited 7 million people with

influx of 120,000 to 170,000 travellers in the border daily, any outbreak of

pandemic spells catastrophe to the already overcrowded public health system.

There are at least 5oo and up to 1000 students in any one single standard high

school here. I guess no officials will like such attention because it is bad for

tourism and business. Other asian neighbors like Japan or Thailand also share

the same problems.

 

What I am curious is what kind of impact it has on Chinese medicine doctors in

other parts of the world?

 

 

SUNG, Yuk-ming