The Telescope

Issue Date: 5/11/09

H1N1, more than just the swine flu

By Crystal Evans

Media Credit: Chuck Berman Swine flu is just one of three different influenza viruses found in the H1N1 virus.

Media Credit: Yingling

The H1N1 virus, also known as the swine flu, has been declared a pandemic stage five, meaning that a pandemic is imminent, according to the World Health Organization.
As of press time, there are no suspected or confirmed cases at any Palomar College campus, however, Mission Hills High School, less than two and a half miles from the San Marcos campus, was closed on May 4-5 due to a possible case of swine flu.
With the growing number of cases in San Diego County, some students are taking extra steps to keep themselves safe.
"I have been washing my hands more and have been more conscious of my health," Palomar student Michelle Brown said. "I'm also not sharing things as much. Those affected are those who seem to already have weak immune systems, so if you're healthy I don't think you'll be affected as much."
However, not all students seem to think it's a big risk.
"I don't get sick fast," Palomar student Taylor Sharpe explained when she said she wasn't worried about the outbreak.
No matter what one's take on their risk of infection, it is important that people get educated about the virus.
"Meat sales have gone down because people are so quick to think they can get it that way," Brown said. "People don't do their research. Not being educated on what's going on is the biggest concern."
The H1N1 virus cannot be contracted from eating pork, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
Though cases of swine flu have occurred before, this epidemic is the first one to spread human-to-human, making it a much bigger threat.
According to the CDC, pigs complicate the influenza virus, as they are able to contract both human influenza and avian influenza.
The current outbreak is a mixture of the swine flu, bird flu and the human flu, according to the CDC. A pig that was already ill with swine flu was then infected with the bird flu. These two viruses mutated and then it was spread to a human who had influenza.
Because the virus is able to mutate, the genes from the three different influenza viruses mixed to become the H1N1 virus. The element of human influenza is what makes this strain so contagious.
In order to avoid getting ill, the CDC advises that individuals wash hands regularly, get sufficient sleep and practice healthy habits. If you or someone in you household becomes ill, stay home for at least 14 days to prevent spreading the virus to others.

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