The epidemic trio: pandemic, epidemic, endemic An epidemic is an infectious disease that can spread rapidly and affects many people. In terms of the temporal and spatial extent of epidemics, physicians distinguish between three forms: Pandemic, Epidemic and Endemic. Pandemic: Definition A pandemic is a worldwide epidemic. In this case, an infectious disease occurs in … Pandemic & Epidemic: Definition and more
The swine flu, also called “new flu”, describes an infection with an influenza A (H1N1) virus, which can infect animals as well as humans. The term “swine flu” is somewhat misleading, since the virus itself was never isolated from a pig, but it is a mixed variant of viruses that could be isolated from infected … Swine flu
Diagnosis The focus of the diagnosis of an infection with the swine flu virus is the detection of the virus’ DNA. Nevertheless, it is important to take a thorough anamnesis in a doctor-patient conversation. In this discussion then usually the suspicion on the presence of a flu illness hardens itself. The treating physician is interested … Diagnosis | Swine flu
Therapy Since influenza can be life-threatening, especially for people with risk factors, a visit to a doctor should not be postponed if there is a suspicion of infection with the virus. This is especially true for older people and pregnant women. Treatment of swine flu should be carried out in all cases, even if only … Therapy | Swine flu
Vaccination A vaccine against the swine flu virus has been available since 2009 and is now integrated into every seasonal flu vaccination. The vaccine is a so-called dead vaccine, which contains killed viruses that can no longer infect the organism. However, they are sufficient to stimulate the body’s own immune system to produce antibodies that … Vaccination | Swine flu
A pandemic is the spread of a disease over a very large area. True influenza (flu) occurs as a pandemic about every 25 to 30 years. Vaccination, clean drinking water, and physical hygiene are among the important tools used to prevent pandemics. What is a pandemic? Medical science refers to a pandemic when a disease … Pandemic: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment
