H1N1 – A Contagious and Dangerous Disease

With the rapid spread of H1N1 which has entered the stage 6, the highest level of pandemic which indicates the risk of widespread and human to human transmission. It is a dangerous and contagious disease which could lead to the deaths of many people. Special care should be taken for the patients, as well as urgent stringent measures should be enforced globally to curb the spread.

Although medical history has clearly pointed out that the seasonal flu has claimed more lives than this H1N1, people from all walks of life continue to press the panic button following increased number of H1N1 related deaths. The spread of the virus is alarming and that itself has caused much worry and drastically altered the lives of many people.

Now there is no more question of if the human to human transmission has taken place as it is already in the stage 6-the worst stage of pandemic despite all the early measures to control suspected cases from entering certain countries.

It is very obvious how this H1N1 pandemic has affected us. Many staff and workers would be advised to stay at home for quarantine if respiratory symptoms persists. Attendance to classes and colleges would also be greatly affected. Productivity of factories reduced while clinics and hospitals have become a popular place among people to seek medical advice and treatment.

WHO also reported research conducted in the USA and published 29 July in The Lancet has drawn attention to the increased risk of pregnant women infected with the H1N2 virus which could result in severe or even fatal illness.

In addition to that, several other countries experiencing widespread transmission of the pandemic virus have similarly reported an increased risk in pregnant women, particularly during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, which could result in spontaneous abortions or risk of fetal death.