Page 16 of articles about influenza

    North-American Influenza - A/H1N1 influenza like human illness in Mexico and the USA: OIE statement

    28-Apr-2009
    Any current information in influenza like animal disease in Mexico or the USA could support a link between human cases and possible animal cases including swine. The virus has not been isolated in animals to date. Therefore, it is not justified to name this disease swine influenza. In the past, many human influenza epidemics with animal origin have been named using their geographic name, eg Spanish influenza or Asiatic influenza, thus it would be logical to call this disease “North-American influenza”.

    North-American Influenza - WHO raises pandemic alert level

    28-Apr-2009
    The Emergency Committee, established in compliance with the International Health Regulations (2005), held its second meeting on 27 April 2009. The WHO Director-General has raised the level of influenza pandemic alert from the current phase 3 to phase 4.

    Canada - Government of Canada is working closely with provinces and territories and international partners to address Swine Flu

    27-Apr-2009
    The Public Health Agency of Canada’s National Microbiology Lab in Winnipeg has confirmed four cases of A, H1N1 swine flu from Nova Scotia. The British Columbia Centre for Disease Control identified two additional cases from British Columbia. All six cases are same strain of human swine influenza that has been found in the U.S. and Mexico. These first cases were detected as a result of the increased surveillance the federal government initiated with the provinces and territories and health professionals given concerns over the spread of swine flu in Mexico and the United States.

    Epidemiolology and control of swine influenza

    Considering the current situation we are reproducing an article by Tom Alexander previously published by 3tres3.com on 30/dec/2005. A key factor in the epidemiology of influenza is the ability of the virus to mutate or, when cells are infected by two different strains, to recombine to produce new viruses. Either of these genetic changes results in the repeated appearance of new strains with different immunogenic structures and/or virulence, including their ability to infect different hosts.

    What causes coughing in pigs?

    12-Nov-2008
    Any factor that irritates or inflames the respiratory system will elicit the physiological response of either sneezing or coughing or both. Although alarming and indicative of disease, coughing is at least a sign that normal physiological responses are taking place and should not in isolation be necessarily seen as a bad thing. We may have sudden or generalized outbreaks of coughing as well as a constant coughing in pig groups. There are infectious pathogenic agents that are normally associated with coughing or laboured breathing in pigs such as Actinobacillus, Bordetella, Haemophilus, Pasteurella Streptococcus, Mycoplasma, SIV, PRRSV or PCV2.