H1 N1 And Your Immunity

H1N1 AND YOUR IMMUNITY Carol Morley, Naturopathic Doctor Zawada Health, Mississauga

Overview
What is H1N1?
What is the history?
Transmission, progression and symptoms
Guidelines
Health Canada, Ministry of Health, CDC, Motherisk
Prevention

H1N1
Flu virus – human swine influenza
Subtype influenza A
Genetic elements from four different flu viruses – North American swine influenza, North American avian influenza, human influenza, and swine influenza virus typically found in Asia and Europe
Result of reassortment of human and swine influenza viruses

H1N1 – history
1918 flu pandemic – “Spanish flu”
1930
1976, 1988 – isolated human cases
1998, 2007 – in swine
2009 pandemic
Respiratory illness outbreak in March/April 2009
Patient zero was a 6 month old girl in Mexico
Farm in Alberta with a link to the outbreak in Mexico

H1N1 Pandemic
World Health Organization (WHO) definition
emergence of a disease new to a population
agents infect humans, causing serious illness
agents spread easily and sustainably among humans
6 levels - geographical
Must be infectious i.e. not cancer
H1N1 – pandemic as of June 2009

H1N1 Spread
When someone coughs or sneezes, tiny droplets filled with virus can travel up to two metres away.
If these droplets land in your eyes, nose or mouth, you may become infected with the virus.
Doorknobs, pens
Not through pork

Attacking the Body
Starts in the nose and then moves into lower airways
No symptoms
Attaches to cells and divides
Symptoms may start
2-7 days for symptoms to begin after ‘infection’
Strength of immune system determines path taken

Symptoms
Almost always :
Cough and fever (≥100° F / 37.8° C)
Common:
Fatigue
Muscle aches
Sore throat
Headache
Decreased appetite
Runny nose
Sometimes:
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Cold vs flu?
Seasonal flu vs H1N1?

Who?
Median age of confirmed cases: 12 years
Median age of hospitalized cases: 20 years
Median age of lethal cases: 37 years
>65 years of age
Hospitalized Deaths
Seasonal flu 60% 90%
2009 H1N1 5% 8%

Who?
Patients hospitalized with H1N1 influenza
Adults with associated risks
asthma, chronic lung or heart disease
Children with associated risks
asthma, chronic lung disease, neurologic disease, or sickle cell disease
6% were pregnant women

Who?
Case fatality is reported to be 0.4%
2.4% for the 1918 influenza pandemic
0.1% for seasonal flu
The highest death rate is in persons 50-64 years.

H1N1 Vaccine
Arepanrix from GlaxoSmithKline
Stimulates an immune response using a killed or weakened virus that uses the body’s own defense mechanisms to prevent infection.
With the H1N1 flu vaccine you will have some immunity to the current strain of the H1N1 flu virus within 10 – 21 days.

H1N1 Vaccine
Priority groups for immunization clinics:
pregnant women
children 6 months to 5 years
under 65 with chronic conditions
people who live with or care for infants under 6 months old
immuno-compromised
healthcare workers

H1N1 Vaccine
Egg – potential allergen
Thimerosol in multi-dose vials
mercury
Adjuvant
Boosts an immune response
Stretches out a vaccine to provide more
Vitamin E, squalene (shark liver oil), and water

H1N1 Vaccine – Pregnancy
Adjuvanted for 20 weeks + or with underlying conditions.
Adjuvanted now considered ok <20 weeks (Oct 30, 2009)
Unadjuvanted vaccine is considered the preferred option.
extensive experience regarding the safety of unadjuvanted seasonal influenza vaccines in pregnant women
there is currently no data on the safety of the adjuvanted H1N1 vaccine in this group

H1N1 Vaccine
Who Shouldn’t Get the Vaccine?
Not approved for children under six months of age.
You have had a previous anaphylactic (severe allergic reaction) to any element of the vaccine.
You have a hypersensitivity to eggs (e.g. hives, swelling of mouth and/or throat, breathing difficulty).
You currently have a high fever.
You have experienced Guillan-Barre Syndrome within eight weeks of receiving a seasonal flu vaccine.

Conventional Treatment
Antivirals
Must be taken within the first 24 to 48 hours after getting sick
Available in two forms:
a pill (called oseltamivir or Tamiflu®)
an inhaler (called zanamivir or Relenza®).

Prevention
Wash your hands.
Disinfect door knobs, surfaces.
Sneeze into your sleeve.
Avoid large crowds.
Alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Naturopathic Immune Strategies
Nutrition
More fruits, veggies, garlic, onions, less sugar and alcohol
Vitamin D, probiotics
Herbal
Astragalus, cat’s claw, licorice
Lifestyle
Gargle with warm salt water, neti-pot
Stress management
Sleep

Resources
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/alert-alerte/h1n1/index-eng.php
http://www.who.int/en/
http://www.motherisk.org/women/index.jsp
http://www.flu.gov/index.html
Thank you!
Carol Morley, ND
Zawada Health, 201 City Centre Drive, Mississauga

H1 N1 And Your Immunity

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