Spread of H1N1
What is the H1N1 virus? The H1N1 virus is the most common cause of human influenza. Some of these viruses are very serious and deadly while others are easy to rid of. Swine influenza is in some pigs and when eaten could spread. The Swine Flu outbreak scared and shocked people. Thousands of citizens were hospitalized and this worried scientists.
In our past history we have come across the H1N1 virus very frequently. The first outbreak was in 1917, and was targeted at elderly people. A year later there was another outbreak killing 50 million people who was the percent of the world’s population. The most recent outbreak was in 2009, and about 17,000 people caught it in the first week. H1N1 is a global disaster and has stirred up problems in other continents. An example of this was in India and people who spit in public somehow contracted the disease. But scientists ar5e researching how H1N1 is able to spread so fast and may help other viruses to become more deadly. AS time goes on researchers now that these viruses and flu’s will advance as times goes on.
Overall, this virus is very serious and precautions should be taken. I think the virus is sort of helping us in some way. These viruses show us to take care of our bodies and become more hygienic. First of you should wash your hands with water and anti bacterial soap before you eat and after going to the bathroom. Another tip is to avoid touching your mouth or eyes because this is a very easy entrance for a virus. Also getting vaccines for the virus improved to be helpful. In the 1917 they didn’t have advanced inventions or very helpful vaccines but now they’re available. So I suggest getting the vaccines.
Resource;
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110309162119.htm
Government recommends lowering fluoride levels in U.S. drinking water
My article today is about fluoride levels in drinking water and whether or not these levels should be reduced. The government is concerned with the amount of fluoride present in drinking water. They feel it should be reduced to prevent a condition called fluorosis. Fluorosis causes yellow staining on children teeth. Fluoride is made from the element Fluorine and has been known to prevent cavities. “Fluorine is a pale yellow, diatomic, highly corrosive, flammable gas, with a pungent odor. It is the lightest halogen. It reacts violently with water to produce oxygen and the extremely corrosive hydrofluoric acid”. According to the article, the current levels of fluoride in drinking water range from .7 to 1.2. The government is proposing to reduce these levels to 0.7. The American Dental Association also agrees that lower levels of fluorine will continue to reduce tooth decay and the condition of fluorosis.
I think reducing the levels of fluoride in drinking water is safe. There are other sources that can be used such as toothpaste, supplements, and mouthwash which contain fluoride. If the level of fluoride in drinking water is reduced, parents should use these other sources.
Although, fluoride is added to water to help prevent tooth decay, studies have shown that excessive amounts actual backfire and damage teeth. Some organizations believe the intake of excessive amounts of fluoride pose more serious dangers such as hormone disruption, cancer, and neurotoxicity. In the video called, “Fluoride’s Deadly Secret”, Russell-Blaylock discusses these potential concerns in detail.
Article link: http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/01/07/fluoride.recommendations/index.html?npt=NP1
Video link: Russell-Blaylock: Fluoride’s Deadly Secret Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkaRkKwmPRw
References: http://www.chemicool.com/elements/fluorine.html
H1N1:Lessosn learned from the H1N1 Pandemic
The article, “Lessons learned from the H1N1 pandemic” discusses the failure to prepare vaccines for the H1N1 virus and the repercussion of poor planning in the medical field has on the public as a whole. H1N1 is also known as the swine flu. The swine flu is a highly contagious respiratory disease. This disease has caused approximately 17,000 deaths by the start of 2010. As a result of these statistics, H1N1 has been declared a seasonal pandemic. So where did this virus originate from? This new disease was a human flu mixed with Eurasian pig flu. The outbreak started in Veracruz, Mexico and rapidly spread throughout the United States. According to the article, in 2009 events clearly show the current methods of vaccine production were too slow for an adequate response to this pandemic and much of the planning to prepare enough of the vaccine was incomplete.
I feel that a lesson to be learned is how individuals come in contact with the virus. For instance, a person cannot get swine flu from eating pork products, however it is spread when there is skin to skin contact or direct person to person contact with an infected individual, such as shaking hands, kissing, or caring for a child or other infected person with hands-on care. Another lesson to learn are the symptoms resulting from this virus. Some of the symptoms are fever, coughing, headache, muscle or joint pain, sore throat, chills, fatigue, runny nose and diarrhea.
Overall, this virus is very contagious and certain precautions should be taken. Number one is that you should wash your hands with water and anti bacterial soap. This may not sound like it but is a very big help. Avoid touching your face and eyes a lot because disease get into your body from your face or open cuts. Another way of preventing the swine flu or H1N1 is to get seasonal vaccines as soon as it is available. Getting the vaccination early will help build up one’s immune system which will greatly reduce the chance of ever getting it.
Reference: http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2010/10/18/lessons_learned_from_the_h1n1_pandemic.html
Beyond the Walls in Biology 