Impact of swine flu
Scientists predicted nearly a year ago, that Mexico and other tropical hotspots are emerging as the growing areas for genetic diseases. And now the newly originated swine flu is originated from these areas. The events caused by zoonotic diseases are correlated with the socio-economic, environmental and ecological factors. With the help of these conditions scientists made predictive map of emerging diseases pointing to Latin America, tropical Africa and Asia. Search team also focused on richer developed countries of Europe, North America, parts of Asia and Australia rather than in developing countries.
Along the recent developments, some Asian countries have set up quarantines for passengers who arrive their. The United States of America is one of the swine flu infected regions, where new swine flu virus or is suspected of spreading. A person can carry a virus from one country to another and can be contagious before symptoms appear. It is also found that a virus has evolved new ways to exploit human contact as a way of spreading. If the contact is reduced then the outbreak of this disease can also be reduced. Mexico, Brazil and Canada are the most likely routes of entry for avian influenza into the United States. Study showed that the bird flu was most likely to be introduced to United States and other countries of the western hemisphere through the infected poultry trade. The H5N1 avian influenza virus was also brought by migratory birds to the United States from Mexican countries. Biodiversity also contributed in spreading the zoonosis. Disease emergence is also affected by climate change by shifting animal habitats and by increasing range of known disease carriers like mosquitoes. Few years ago, researchers and policy makers placed their bets on H5N1 strain of bird flu virus emerging in Asia. Work on vaccine for the new swine flu to protect us from getting sick has started by the centers for the disease control and prevention. It will take four to six months to be ready, once researchers and manufacturers commit to making a vaccine for the new swine flu virus. Scientists can now better identify the movement of many new diseases causing agents before they move to people by identifying the links between wildlife, livestock and humans.
The recent outbreak in 2009, in humans is due to new strain known as influenza A virus subtype H1N1, which contains genes closely related to the swine influenza. Though the origin of this strain is not known, world organization for animal health reports that strain has not been isolated in pigs. This strain causes normal symptoms of influenza and can pass from human to human. Swine outbreaks are very common and cause high economic losses in industry. So, necessary steps should be taken to stop spreading of this disease as it is influencing the social and economic structure of the states. Various precautionary and preventive steps should be taken to avoid this pandemic disease.
