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Published in Viyaasan Mahalingasivam, Marc A Gladman, Manoj Ramachandran, Secrets of Success: Getting into Medical School, 2020
Veena Naganathar, Asil Tahir, Pairaw Kader, Omar Chehab
The symptoms of swine influenza are similar to those experienced during seasonal influenza, although it has demonstrated faster rates of infection amongst people under the age of 50. Those who are thought to be infected are advised to stay at home and avoid social contact, including visits to GP surgeries or hospitals, until recovery. In July 2009, the NHS launched the National Pandemic Flu Service, with the aim of further taking the pressure off GP surgeries by encouraging people who suspect they have swine influenza to answer a short questionnaire online or over the telephone about their symptoms and medical history. If their answers suggest that they do have swine influenza, they may be advised to take the antiviral drug oseltamivir (Tamiflu), and someone will be authorized to collect it on their behalf. This measure was taken partly in response to the unregulated sale of the drug online, as Tamiflu is only recommended for use in severely ill patients and those who have underlying medical conditions. There are, however, some concerns that this service will result in excessive use of Tamiflu, leading to antiviral resistance and the depletion of supplies.
The Most Probable Origin and Initial Global Spread of HIV
Published in James Chin, Jeffrey Koplan, The AIDS Pandemic, 2018
During the past 50 years, more than 25 new or newly recognized infectious disease agents have emerged and have been detected (seeTable 3.1). Included among these emergent infectious disease agents have been about a dozen influenza or influenza-like agents. Influenza A viruses are found in many different animals, including ducks, chickens, pigs, whales, horses, and seals. Wild birds are the primary natural reservoir for all subtypes of influenza A viruses and are thought to be the source of influenza A viruses for other animals. Pigs can be infected with both human and avian influenza viruses in addition to swine influenza viruses. Because pigs are susceptible to avian, human and swine influenza viruses, they potentially may be infected with influenza viruses from different species (e.g., ducks and humans) at the same time. If this happens, it is theoretically possible for the genes of these viruses to mix and create a new virus. While it is unusual for humans to get influenza virus infection directly from animals, sporadic human infection and outbreaks caused by avian and swine influenza A viruses have occurred. However, the emergence of a new influenza virus that “jumps” from animals to humans does not guarantee that a human disease pandemic will occur. The prime example of emergence of a non-pandemic influenza type A virus was the 1976 Swine flu outbreak! The emergence of SARS Corona virus apparently from civet cats to persons in close contact with them in southern China is another example of emergence of a non-pandemic infectious disease agent.
Amantadine and Rimantadine
Published in M. Lindsay Grayson, Sara E. Cosgrove, Suzanne M. Crowe, M. Lindsay Grayson, William Hope, James S. McCarthy, John Mills, Johan W. Mouton, David L. Paterson, Kucers’ The Use of Antibiotics, 2017
A study by Durrant and colleagues (2015) clearly shows the relentless increase in key M2 mutations over time (Figure 265.2). The S31N mutation, which mediates complete resistance to amantadine and rimantadine, was not prevalent in influenza-infected humans before 2000, but from that date it has gone from nearly zero to virtually 100%. This mutation became common (~ 50% prevalence) in swine influenza before humans, and it suggests that swine might have been the reservoir infecting the human population. A further interesting observation is that the V27A mutation (likewise mediating amantadine resistance) is not common in either humans or pigs, but dual mutations are more common in that animal (Durrant et al., 2015).
Variant influenza: connecting the missing dots
Published in Expert Review of Anti-infective Therapy, 2022
Vivek Chavda, Rajashri Bezbaruah, Tutumoni Kalita, Anupam Sarma, Juti Rani Devi, Ratnali Bania, Vasso Apostolopoulos
The swine influenza virus, which was first identified in pigs in the USA in 1918, occurred simultaneously with the disastrous 1918 human influenza pandemic, alternatively also known as the Spanish flu outbreak [103]. In 1919, clinical commonalities between influenza infections of humans and swine were noted, which brought about several research investigations and hypotheses explaining the roots of the 1918 influenza virus [104].
The risk of a swine influenza pandemic: still a concern?
Published in Expert Review of Respiratory Medicine, 2019
Paul Loubet, Vincent Enouf, Odile Launay
Swine influenza is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses (IAVs) that regularly cause outbreaks in pigs. Like human influenza viruses, there are different subtypes and strains of swine influenza viruses. The main swine influenza viruses circulating in pigs in recent years have been swine triple reassortant (tr) H1N1 influenza virus, trH3N2 virus, and trH1N2 virus.