Novel H1N1 or “swine flu” as it is recently called, is a growing worry and threat to many families around the world.  It is a new virus found in April of 2009 and since, the CDC has declared it a public health emergency.  Normally this influenza is found in pigs, however, the flu has recently infected humans causing health officials to fret it will spread globally.

Swine flu contains the basic symptoms of a normal influenza, or flu such as fever, sore throat, runny nose, cough, etc.  It is contagious.  The World Health Organization has raised the pandemic level to a six level threat scale meaning the virus is capable of being passed from human to human. 

There is no proven risk that the disease can be contracted through eating pork, drinking water, or from recreational water venues such a swimming pools or water parks.  However, it is a respiratory disease spread through coughing or sneezing and the bacteria can live on a service for up to 8 hours. 

How can you help prevent contracting this disease?  The most important thing you can do is to wash, wash, wash!  Wash your hands after a sneeze or cough with an alcohol based cleanser.  Try not to touch your mouth, eyes, or nose, this is the main way germs enter the body.  Try not to be in contact with someone who is sick, and if you are sick, stay home for at  least seven days.

A vaccine is being worked on and could be ready as soon as September of 2009.  The CDC recently presented a press conference expressing the importance of five target groups for the initial focus for immunization.  These include pregnant women, household contacts of children who are under 6 months of age, health care workers and emergency medical personnel, children and young people between 6 months-24 years of age, and non elderly adults with underlying medical conditions that have increased risk from influenza.

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After actress Jenny McCarthy’s recent explosion on Larry King Live, it’s clear that the debate over whether vaccines cause autism will continue. Although officials from the World Health Organization, American Academy of Pediatrics and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention all say there is no connection between vaccines and autism, recent developments could make them reconsider that conclusion.

According to WebMD, a March decision by federal officials granted compensation to a young girl’s family after it was determined that vaccines could have exacerbated another condition, which caused the girl to exhibit autism-like symptoms. That same month, the scientists at the National Institute of Mental Health said they will continue to consider concerns about a possible link between vaccines and the developmental disability.

Concern over vaccines link to autism sparked 10 years ago when a study in “The Lancet” indicated a possible association between the illness and the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. The study told the tales of eight children who began displaying autism-like symptoms shortly after their first MMR inoculation. But after extensive investigation of millions of children across numerous continents, there was no concrete evidence to prove a true association between autism and the vaccine.

The other argument against the safety of vaccines stems from mercury. A large number of vaccines contain some amount of mercury and in the late 1990s federal health officials realized the recommended vaccination schedule could expose children to more than what is deemed safe. Action by the nation’s Public Health Service and the American Academy of Pediatrics had mercury removed from all vaccines by 2001.

Since then, a number of studies have investigated whether children who received the mercury-laden vaccines were more likely to be diagnosed with autism than those who did not. Although none of the studies have found a connection, advocates say they aren’t convinced because of the similarities between autism and mercury poisoning. Because there is no clear answer, its best that you discuss your child’s vaccination schedule with your pediatrician. You should also take it upon yourself to be an informed patient, since your child can’t, learn what the vaccinations contain and discuss whether your child may be sensitive to any ingredients.

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