Wintry mix spreads across Minnesota

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Q: So far, it sounds like the majority of new cases are tied to Mexico. Is there evidence yet that there has been transmission between people in the U.S.?

A: It's believed that the virus is now being transmitted between people who may not have traveled to Mexico, but may have had contact with those who did. Flu is very contagious so it is likely that as we have more cases, they will transmit between people without connections to some of the affected areas.

Q: A friend is in Cancun, returning tomorrow. How long might she be at risk of developing the flu? In other words, what is the gestation period for this flu?

Q: The media keeps saying the majority of cases are mild but the few recovered victims who have been interviewed speak of not being able to get out of bed, days of over 102 degrees fever, etc. Must admit I'm starting to suspect we are being told the illnesses are mild in hopes of holding down panic. How is "mild" being defined?

A: They are mild in the sense that they may not have led to severe pneumonia or other complications. Pneumonia is one of the greatest concerns with this influenza. 

Q: I will be dissecting pigs in my high school biology class on Thursday, is there a possibility of my getting swine flu from dissecting pigs?

A: No. Influenza is not spread by contact with raw pork products. There are other types of pathogens that can be spread by contact with raw meat. So it's always a good idea to wear gloves and thoroughly wash your hands after handling these specimens.

Q: My son will be traveling with a school group by air this coming Sunday. Are there any suggestions as far as airline travel is concerned? Is anyone recommending use of the N95 masks on planes due to the air circulation issues on board? 

A: N95 masks need to be fitted in order to work effectively. It's possible that they can prevent the spread of this influenza to some degree. But public health officials are not recommending them at this point. Instead, they recommend taking the usual sanitary precautions of covering your cough, staying away from sick people and washing your hands thoroughly and frequently. Also, do not touch your nose and eyes if possible. 

Q: I have a family member with the flu. What should I look for? Should I take them to the hospital?

A: First, it's important to verify that your relative has the flu by visiting the doctor. Your physician will be able to tell you if the case is severe enough to merit a hospital visit. 

Q: Do you think the Swine flu is getting blown out of proportion? Has the media locked on to it and taken it too far?

A: It's valid to wonder if this is the case because we do not have a huge amount of these cases yet.   But public health officials say this is the time when we can do the most to prevent the spread of influenza. So by making the public aware of the situation we are potentially lessening its impact.


Q: Do you believe this is the beginning of the Zombie apocalypse? If so, do you recommend any particular army surplus store for stock piling MREs and First-Aid kits? What's the best action to disable someone who has swine flu who is moaning and slowly shuffling on one leg towards you? 
 

A: There is no evidence that this influenza outbreak will turn you into a Zombie. But if you're interested in stockpiling supplies, it is a good idea to stock up on food and water to last a few days in case you are too sick to leave the house.

Q: Does the standard flu vaccine have a protective effect?

A: It is not believed to have any effect on this new strain of influenza. Public health officials do not believe we have any natural immunity to this virus.

Q: Why is it called swine flu? Why don't we call it Mexican flu?

A: There is a lot of debate right now over what to call it. The term "swine flu" was coined early in this process because the virus contains two swine isolates and pigs are a well known reservoir for influenzas that can transmit to humans. But, the Minnesota Department of Health today said that they are now going to call it H1N1 novel influenza because they don't want people to wrongly assume that they can get the virus from eating pork. They don't want to call it Mexican flu because they don't know for a fact that it originated there. 

Q: The media is reporting 36,000 people typically die every year from the flu. So far, the ratio of deaths to the total number of those affected seems relatively high. Based on the preliminary numbers, doesn't this strain seem pretty deadly? Is it too soon to tell how deadly this strain is? When will we be able to tell? 

A: Actually we won't know how deadly the virus is for some time. There have been many suspected cases and deaths in Mexico, but that country has an overburdened public health system that hasn't been able to tally all of the cases. It's possible that they have had many, many thousands of illnesses that were never reported. If that's the case, their ratio of deaths would be much lower. In the U.S. we've only had one confirmed death so far.

Q: What about the fact that illness travels more quickly in closed spaces and the problem with air circulation on airplanes?

A: It's true that influenza can spread much more easily in confined spaces such as an airplane. In that case, your son might want to consider wearing a mask. But again, public health officials don't think that masks are a foolproof way to prevent the spread of the virus. They might help. But they might not.

Q: If traveling to Mexico, should I take Tamiflu as a preventative?

A: Well, the U.S. government is advising against unnecessary travel to affected areas such as Mexico as long as we are experiencing these cases. So you might want to rethink the trip depending on when you are departing. Doctors do not recommend taking Tamiflu as a preventative because they want to preserve our supplies for people who are really sick and need the medication. Also they worry about drug resistance from overusing these medications when they are not really needed to treat an actual illness. However, if you come into close contact in Mexico with someone who has this influenza, in those cases doctors are giving antivirals to patients who are not sick. 

Q: Are the effects of the swine flu more serious than any of the "typical" strains of influenza we've been seeing in the last several years?

A: Right now it is too early to tell with this particular virus. Reports have suggested there are more gastrointestinal problems with this flu virus. But in the U.S. so far, we've heard that many of the cases mirror the typical flu in terms of severity. 

Q: Is all the food that comes from Mexico safe to eat with the swine flu outbreak?

A: Yes. Influenza is not spread by eating food. It is a respiratory illness that is spread by sneezing and coughing or by touching a contaminated surface and then touching your nose or eyes. But the virus doesn't live long on surfaces. So even if a product was handled by an ill worker, it is extremely unlikely that the virus could live long enough to contaminate you. 

Q: What's the most important thing people should be doing right now to protect themselves and their families?

A: Public health officials say we should just make sure that we take good care of ourselves - get enough rest and exercise - and follow sanitary guidelines for preventing influenza. So stay away from people who are sick, wash your hands frequently and thoroughly and do not go to work if you are sick.

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MPR health reporter Lorna Benson answered readers' questions about swine flu in an online chat Wednesday.

Swine flu Q&A with MPR's Lorna Benson

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