Swine Flu and Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Swine Flu and Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Part 1 Response to the Pandemic of Swine Flu

Swine Flu has been a cause of great concern for many countries especially Islamic countries such as Egypt since it was discovered. The new strain was initially described as an apparent reassortment of at least four strains of influenza A virus subtype H1N1, including one strain endemic in humans, one endemic in birds, and two endemic in swine. Subsequent analysis suggested it was a reassortment of just two strains, both found in swine. Although initial reports identified the new strain as swine influenza (i.e., a zoonosis originating in swine), its genetic origin was only later revealed to have been mostly a descendant of the triple-reassortment virus which emerged in factory farms in the United States in 1998. Several countries took precautionary measures to reduce the chances for a global pandemic of the disease. (Yu, 2008)

Part 2 Alternative Medicine for Swine Flu

Two types of influenza vaccines are available:

TIV (flu shot (injection) of trivalent (three strains; usually A/H1N1, A/H3N2, and B) inactivated (killed) vaccine) or

LAIV (nasal spray (mist) of live attenuated influenza vaccine.)

TIV works by putting into the bloodstream those parts of three strains of flu virus that the body uses to create antibodies; while LAIV works by inoculating the body with those same three strains, but in a modified form that cannot cause illness.

LAIV is not recommended for individuals under age 2 or over age 50, but might be comparatively more effective among children over age 2. For the inactivated vaccines, the virus is grown by injecting it, along with some antibiotics, into fertilized chicken eggs. About one to two eggs are needed to make each dose of vaccine. The virus replicates within the allantois of the embryo, which is ...