This week in pandemic flu, emerging infectious disease: Avian flu cases causing concern in Asia

Indonesia, India and other countries in the Southeast Asia region continue to have problems with reoccurring cases of avian flu, drawing concern from global health officials, according to headlines reported by APHA's Get Ready news Twitter.

Among the bird flu headlines reported recently by the Get Ready news Twitter are:
*Indonesia human bird flu death toll hits 100
*India steps up culling as bird flu spreads
*U.S. offers help to contain bird flu outbreak in West Bengal, India
*Bangladesh plans house-to-house bird flu search
*Bangladesh bird flu situation alarming, says science adviser
*India worst bird flu outbreak spreads
*India admits falling behind in bird flu battle

For links to these and dozens of other news stories and resources, visit the Get Ready Twitter.

New information is posted each weekday, so check back regularly for updates, or sign up for our RSS feed. Our Twitter headlines can also be read on the Get Ready for Flu blog.

Anniversary of 1918 pandemic flu offers lessons

This year marks the 90th anniversary of one of the worst disease outbreaks in human history: the 1918 flu. From 1918 to 1919, waves of a deadly flu strain killed between 30 million and 50 million people around the world, with about 675,000 deaths in the United States alone. Even villages in the Arctic Circle and islands in the South Pacific were hit by the pandemic.

The 1918 flu -- often called the "Spanish" flu because early cases of the disease were linked to Spain -- was unique. It was deadlier for young, otherwise healthy adults than for the very young or old. The virus also acted quickly: Histories tell many stories of people falling ill and dying within a matter of hours.

Even as the pandemic swept the globe, scientists and doctors did not yet fully understand its cause. They did, however, know that it spread during coughing and sneezing. As a result, U.S. cities and communities tried to stop the spread of the virus however they could. Some towns recommended or required that residents wear masks, while other places used quarantines or banned out-of-town visitors.

To make matters worse, the 1918 flu came at a bad time. Not only did the mass mobilizations of World War I quicken the spread of the flu, but the large numbers of medical staff needed abroad for the conflict caused of doctors and nurses at home during the worst stages of the pandemic.

In the summer of 1919, to everyone's relief , the Spanish flu pandemic ended. Public health officials and scientists today study the 1918 flu to better understand how the pandemic happened and to learn what can be done to prevent history from repeating itself. As we look back on this anniversary, one of the most important lessons we can take away is the need to prepare. These materials from APHA and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services can help get you and your community started.

Photo caption: A street conductor in Seattle tells passengers they can't board without a mask during the flu pandemic in 1918. Courtesy National Archives.

This week in pandemic flu, emerging infectious disease: Concerns focus on more than just bird flu

While health officials around the world continue to track avian flu cases, they are also keeping their eyes trained for other infectious diseases that are emerging as a threat or are making a comeback. Among the diseases that are on the radar are dengue, MRSA, tuberculosis and cholera, according to headlines reported by APHA's Get Ready news Twitter.

Among the infectious disease headlines reported recently by the Get Ready news Twitter are:

*Vietnam to vaccinate 400,000 children against cholera
*Cambodia bracing for dengue fever outbreak
*Family docs in UK on alert for MRSA strain in nurseries, schools and gyms
*Measles epidemic in north Nigerian city
*Tropical dengue fever may threaten U.S.
*TB major health problem in Afghanistan
*Horse flu spreads in Mongolia

For links to these and dozens of other news stories and resources, visit the Get Ready Twitter.

New information is posted each weekday, so check back regularly for updates, or sign up for our RSS feed. Our Twitter headlines can also be read on the Get Ready for Flu blog.

Chik fever: Funny name, serious threat

What's in a name? In the case of Chikungunya fever, a mosquito-borne disease that is becoming a growing concern around the world, a funny-sounding name has serious implications. The word "Chikungunya" is thought to mean "to dry up or to become contorted," describing the stooped posture that many victims develop as a result of the severe joint pain and arthritis associated with the disease. Not so funny-sounding now, right?

Chik fever is a rare viral disease usually only seen in Africa and Asia. But it has now spread to parts of Europe and has been found in travelers in the United States. Similar to West Nile virus, the chikungunya virus is spread to people by bites from infected mosquitoes. Faster travel and warmer climates have allowed the disease to spread more easily, scientists believe. The virus has also changed to infect the Asian tiger mosquito, which has been found in both Europe and North America. It could be only a matter of time until infected mosquitoes make their way across the United States, and onto your arms and legs.

Infections with Chik fever can range from unpleasant -- such as fever, fatigue, nausea, muscle pain and rash -- to serious, such as severe joint pain and arthritis that can last from weeks to months. Unfortunately, there is no treatment or vaccine for Chik fever.

As climate change creates more warm areas for mosquitoes to spread to, diseases such as Chik fever will become more of a concern. So once the temperatures start to rise in your region and the bugs are again buzzing, remember to take precautions against mosquitoes. You could get more than an itch for your troubles.


Photo courtesy of iStockphoto

To kiss or not to kiss?

Ever wonder whether that smooch you stole from your sweetheart made you sick? Actually, you're more likely to catch a cold or the flu when you shake someone's hand. People often put their fingers in their mouths without realizing it, then spread the virus by shaking someone's hand or making a dish for supper.

According to a recent report in the American Journal of Infection Control, practicing good handwashing habits at home, at work and elsewhere is the best way to keep germs from spreading. Experts say handwashing might even be our best defense against a flu pandemic. If you're not near a sink, a squeeze of alcohol-based hand sanitizer will do the trick. You can keep a small bottle handy in a jacket pocket or purse for when you eat out or wait in line at the store.

While handwashing is important to keep germs at bay, don't overlook your humdrum household chores. Regularly clean your kitchen counters, door and tap handles, toilet seats, sinks and bathtubs, as home hygiene matters, according to the report.

"Well, I don't want to be a neat freak," you might say to all this. You've even heard talk about how being "too clean" is not great for your immune system. But when it comes to protecting the family from getting sick, the report researchers recommend a targeted approach to home hygiene: Focus on the key routes for the spread of harmful germs while leaving other organisms in the environment unharmed.

So don't forget to wash your hands, but thoroughly (or it doesn't count)!

Photo courtesy of iStockphoto