Hog cholera

Hog cholera is a contagious disease that -- as the name implies -- primarily affects pigs. The virus that causes it is often transmitted through direct contact between healthy swine and infected swine. There are three forms: acute, chronic, and mild. Because the disease was eradicated in the United States in 1978, animal health officials require pigs from foreign countries to remain in quarantine for 90 days before entering the country.

What Is Hog Cholera? Hog cholera, also known as classical swine fever, is a highly contagious viral disease among swine. How Common Is It? This disease was eradicated from the United States in 1978, after a 16-year effort by the industry and state and federal governments. Today, only 16 other countries are free of hog cholera. In the spring and summer of 1997, outbreaks of hog cholera were confirmed in Haiti and the Dominican Republic; both countries had eradicated the disease in the early 1980s. Also, in 1997, several European countries, including the Netherlands and Belgium, experienced outbreaks and suffered heavy economic losses. These outbreaks have animal health officials at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) concerned that hog cholera could spread to U.S. swine herds. While the disease does not cause foodborne illness in people, economic losses to pork producers would be severe if hog cholera were to become established again in this country. How Is Hog Cholera Transmitted? The most common method of transmission is direct contact between healthy swine and those infected with hog cholera. The disease also can be transmitted through contact with body secretions and excrement (feces) from infected animals. Healthy pigs coming into contact with contaminated vehicles, pens, feed, or clothing may contract the disease as well. Birds, flies, and humans can physically carry the virus from infected swine to healthy swine. Swine owners can inadvertently spread hog cholera through feeding their herds untreated food wastes containing infected pork scraps. Signs and Symptoms of Hog Cholera The clinical signs of hog cholera vary with the severity of the infection. There are three forms of the disease: * Acute * Chronic * Mild. Acute Hog Cholera The acute form of hog cholera is highly virulent (severe), causing persistent fevers that can raise body temperatures to as high as 107°F. Other signs of the acute form include convulsions and lack of appetite. Affected pigs will pile or huddle up together. Signs of hog cholera may not be apparent for several days following infection. Death usually occurs within 5 to 14 days following the onset of infection. Chronic Hog Cholera The chronic form causes similar clinical signs in affected swine, but the signs are less severe than in the acute form. Discoloration of the abdominal skin and red splotches around the ears and extremities often occur. Pigs with chronic hog cholera can live for more than 100 days after the onset of infection. Mild Hog Cholera The mild, or clinically unapparent, form of hog cholera seldom results in noticeable clinical signs. Affected pigs suffer from short periods of illness, which are often followed by periods of recovery. Eventually, a terminal relapse occurs. The mild strain may cause small litter size, stillbirths, and other reproductive failures. High mortality during weaning may also indicate the presence of this mild strain of the disease. How Can Swine Owners Protect Their Animals? Swine owners who suspect that their pigs may have hog cholera should immediately contact their local veterinarian or federal or state animal health official. Taking the following steps can help swine owners prevent the disease from occurring: * Check animals at least twice a week for unusual signs or behaviors * Make sure food waste is properly heated to destroy pathogens * Isolate newly purchased hogs for at least 21 days * Isolate sick pigs until the cause of illness is determined * Fence property to prevent wild pigs from coming into contact with domestic herds * Practice standard biosecurity measures, such as cleaning and disinfecting clothing, equipment, and vehicles entering and leaving the farm. How Animal Health Officials Protect U.S. Animals The USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) maintains a constant surveillance against the entry of foreign animal diseases such as hog cholera. To ensure that pigs are free of disease, swine from countries affected by hog cholera can enter the United States only after a 90-day quarantine at a high-security import center in Key West, Florida. Controlling Hog Cholera APHIS coordinates an emergency task force made up of federal, state, and local officials. This task force is ready to respond immediately to any outbreak of a foreign disease. If an outbreak of hog cholera should occur, the task force would take the following actions: * Investigate the affected farm to determine the history of illness, the types and number of pigs affected, and collect any other information relating to the illness * Quarantine the affected premises and the surrounding areas, if necessary, to restrict the movement of affected and exposed animals * Trace all movements of swine to and from the affected premises * Provide laboratory services to test affected and exposed animals * Euthanize or slaughter and dispose of all infected and exposed animals; dispose of exposed materials like bedding and manure * Supervise cleaning and disinfection of the affected premises * Advise and assist hog farmers in the area if their herds are susceptible to the disease or located near a quarantined area * Increase public awareness of the outbreak and control efforts through press conferences, news releases, and public service announcements * Make an onsite public information specialist available to answer questions and provide updates to the media and the public.

Stomach Virus

There is no "stomach virus" per se. Viruses that cause the condition most commonly known as "stomach flu" actually affect the small intestine. Symptoms of these infections include vomiting, diarrhea, and sometimes body aches. Anyone can become infected, although infants and children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems may have a more severe form of the infection. What Is the Stomach Virus? Stomach flu is caused by a virus. There are a number of different viruses that can cause stomach flu, but the so-called "stomach virus" does not actually affect the stomach at all. Viruses that cause stomach flu affect the small intestine. Furthermore, these stomach flu viruses are not actually flu viruses. The flu virus is the influenza virus. Influenza virus does not cause stomach flu symptoms. Regardless of the inaccuracies of the terms "stomach flu" and "stomach virus," these are the most commonly used terms to describe what healthcare providers call viral gastroenteritis. Specific Facts Regarding the Stomach Virus There are a number of viruses that can cause stomach flu. There are four main types of stomach viruses: * Rotavirus * Caliciviruses * Adenovirus * Astrovirus. Rotavirus Rotavirus is the leading cause of stomach flu among children 3 months to 15 months old and the most common cause of diarrhea in children under the age of 5 years. This type of "stomach virus" causes vomiting and watery diarrhea for 3 to 8 days, along with fever and abdominal pain. This stomach flu virus can also infect adults who are in close contact with infected children, but the symptoms in adults are milder (see Adult Rotavirus). In the United States, rotavirus infections are most common from November to April. Caliciviruses Caliciviruses cause infection in people of all ages. This family of viruses is divided into four types, the noroviruses (see Norovirus) being the most common. It is now thought that at least 50 percent of all foodborne outbreaks of gastroenteritis can be attributed to noroviruses. Norwalk virus is a type of norovirus. People infected with one of these "stomach viruses" may develop vomiting and diarrhea, fatigue, headache, and sometimes muscle aches. Norovirus symptoms appear within 1 to 3 days of exposure. Adenovirus Adenovirus infections occur mainly in children under 2 years of age. Of the 49 types of adenoviruses, one strain affects the gastrointestinal tract, causing vomiting and diarrhea. Symptoms from this "stomach virus" typically appear 1 week after exposure. Adenovirus infections occur year-round. Astrovirus Astrovirus infects primarily infants, young children, and the elderly. This type of "stomach virus" is most active during the winter months. Vomiting and diarrhea appear within 1 to 3 days of exposure.

Smallpox

Smallpox is a highly contagious disease that is caused by the variola virus. Initial symptoms of this disease are similar to those of a flu, but a characteristic rash will typically follow within days. Although outbreaks used to be common, a vaccine was eventually created, and the disease was eradicated worldwide by 1980. What Is Smallpox? Smallpox is a serious, highly contagious, and sometimes fatal disease. The name smallpox is derived from the Latin word for "spotted," which refers to the raised bumps that appear on the face and body of an infected person. Thanks to the success of vaccination, the last natural outbreak of smallpox in the United States occurred in 1949. By 1972, routine vaccinations for children in the United States were no longer needed. In 1980, the disease was said to be wiped out worldwide, and no cases of naturally occurring smallpox have occurred since then. What Causes It? The cause of smallpox is an infection with the variola virus. Variola virus is a double-stranded DNA virus in the family Poxviridae and the genus Orthopoxvirus. Variola virus only infects humans. Different Types of Smallpox There are 2 clinical forms of smallpox: variola major and variola minor. Variola major is the severe and most common form of smallpox, characterized by a more extensive rash and higher fever. There are 4 types of variola major smallpox: * Ordinary (the most frequent type, accounting for 90 percent or more of cases) * Modified (mild and occurring in previously vaccinated persons) * Flat * Hemorrhagic. Both flat and hemorrhagic are rare and very severe conditions. Historically, variola major has an overall mortality rate of about 30 percent. Flat and hemorrhagic smallpox are almost always fatal. Variola minor is a less common presentation of smallpox, and a much less severe disease, with death rates historically of 1 percent or less. How Is It Transmitted? Smallpox is highly contagious. In most cases, transmission occurs by inhaling droplets of saliva, which are full of virus, during face-to-face contact with an infected person. Usually, fairly prolonged face-to-face contact (3 or more hours) is required. Other, less-common ways that smallpox is spread include: * Direct contact with infected fluids and contaminated objects * Through the air. Incubation Period When a person becomes infected with the virus that causes smallpox (variola), the virus begins to multiply within the body. After 7 to 17 days (the average is 12), smallpox symptoms can begin. This period between the transmission of the virus and the start of symptoms is the "smallpox incubation period." Symptoms of Smallpox Once symptoms begin, the first smallpox symptoms may be hard to distinguish from other flu-like illnesses. After a couple of days, a person with symptoms will begin to develop a smallpox rash. Over the next couple of weeks, this rash will go through various stages. Diagnosis In order to make a diagnosis, the doctor will ask a number of questions and perform a physical exam, looking for signs and symptoms of smallpox. This will include a skin and mouth exam to look for the smallpox rash. If there is a moderate or high suspicion of smallpox, the doctor may order certain lab tests, refer the person to a dermatologist or infectious disease doctor, and/or call health authorities for their recommendations. Before a diagnosis is made, the doctor will also consider other illnesses that can share similar signs and symptoms with smallpox. Some of these illnesses can include: * Chickenpox * Monkeypox * Herpes zoster (shingles) * Contact dermatitis * Erythema multiforme * Hand, foot, and mouth disease * Impetigo * Adverse reaction to medications * Scabies * Molluscum contagiousum. How Is It Treated? There are currently no proven treatments that can kill the smallpox virus. Therefore, treatment focuses on providing relief of symptoms as the body fights the virus. This is called supportive care. Prevention If smallpox were to return, prevention would include: * Vaccination with the smallpox vaccine * Certain health authority measures. Why Smallpox Is a Concern In the aftermath of the events of September and October, 2001, there is heightened concern that the variola virus might be used as an agent of bioterrorism. The deliberate release of smallpox is now regarded as a possibility, and the United States is taking precautions to deal with this threat. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) calls the variola virus a "Category A" agent. Category A agents are believed to present the greatest potential threat for harming public health and have a moderate to high potential for large-scale dissemination. Other Category A agents are: * Anthrax * Botulism * Plague * Tularemia * Viral hemorrhagic fevers. History of Smallpox Smallpox was described in Asia during the first century, in Europe and Africa around 700 A.D., and in Central, South, and North America during the 16th and 17th centuries. Some health experts believe that smallpox, over the centuries, has been responsible for more deaths than all other infectious diseases combined. Thanks to the success of a worldwide vaccination program, smallpox has been eradicated. The last naturally occurring case in the world was in Somalia in 1977. In 1980, the World Health Organization officially said that smallpox was wiped out worldwide, and no cases of naturally occurring smallpox have happened since. After variola virus was eliminated from the world, routine vaccination against smallpox among the general public was stopped because it was no longer necessary for prevention.

Yellow Fever Treatment

There is currently no yellow fever treatment that can kill the virus. Therefore, treatment is focused on providing relief of a person's symptoms as the body fights the virus. Treatment to relieve symptoms can include resting in bed, drinking plenty of fluids, and taking acetaminophen (not aspirin) to relieve fever and discomfort. In severe cases, treatment of yellow fever requires hospitalization for intensive An Overview of Yellow Fever Treatment Within three to six days after a person is bitten by a mosquito infected with the yellow fever virus, he or she may develop yellow fever symptoms. There is currently no treatment that can kill the yellow fever virus. Therefore, yellow fever treatment is focused on providing relief of these symptoms as the body fights the virus. Yellow Fever Treatment in Mild Cases People who experience mild yellow fever symptoms usually have symptoms for a couple of days. During this time, treatment to relieve symptoms can include: * Resting in bed * Drinking plenty of fluids * Taking medication such as acetaminophen (not aspirin) to relieve fever and discomfort. Yellow Fever Treatment in Severe Cases Occasionally, an infected person may develop more severe disease. In these cases, yellow fever treatment usually requires hospitalization for intensive supportive care. This supportive care can include: * Intravenous (IV) fluids * Medications to control seizures, nausea, or vomiting * Blood replacement * Breathing support from a ventilator * Prevention of secondary infections (pneumonia, urinary tract, etc.) * Good nursing care. Yellow Fever Treatment and Prognosis The overall yellow fever death rate is estimated to be between five and ten percent. However, yellow fever research scientists and doctors believe that the death rate might even be lower. In a number of yellow fever cases, the infection causes no symptoms, or very mild symptoms, and people do not seek medical attention.

Is There A Natural Cure for Asthma?

With all the new findings on alternative medicine and natural remedies, you may wonder if there’s a natural cure for asthma. The reality? Presently, there is no cure for asthma. In fact, it’s highly advisable to avoid any asthma treatment or product -- natural or otherwise -- that claims to be a "cure" for asthma. Signs of a Pending Asthma Attack Can Natural Therapies Help to Manage Asthma? Some natural therapies may help to manage symptoms of asthma. For instance, a negative response to emotional stress can cause an asthma attack. Some natural relaxation remedies like deep abdominal breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery, and biofeedback can help relieve stress. Other findings suggest that diet plays a role in alleviating asthma symptoms. For example, it’s thought that omega-3 fatty acids found naturally in high-fat fish such as salmon, mackerel, or cod enable the body to make more products that tend to decrease inflammation. Whether or not this may be of benefit to those with asthma is still unproven. Besides being filled with omega-3s, salmon has protein, calcium, magnesium, some carotenoids, and B vitamins. Vitamin B-6 helps to boost the immune system, which is important in preventing disease. Pros and Cons of Natural Asthma Remedies As you consider the different types of natural asthma remedies available, it’s of utmost importance to cautiously balance your desire to breathe easier with the possible dangers of the treatment, which may be unknown. Never use any natural dietary supplement without checking first with your doctor or asthma specialist. Some natural herbal products, such as bee pollen, may trigger an asthma attack if you are allergic to the specific plant. Also, never stop using your asthma drugs without your doctor’s knowledge. The result of not following your doctor’s prescribed medical regimen to treat your asthma can be very serious, even life threatening. If you are uncertain about the claims on a natural dietary supplement product label, call your doctor. A health care professional can assess the product to let you know what it contains. Goals of Managing Asthma Even though there’s no natural cure for asthma, your symptoms can be treated and controlled with several asthma medications. Your goal in managing asthma is to: * Get an accurate asthma diagnosis. * Work with your doctor to develop an asthma action plan. * Monitor your peak flow rate daily and take appropriate measures when it drops. * Keep an asthma diary so you can track all your symptoms and medication use. * Avoid asthma triggers or causes of asthma, including outdoor irritants such as smog. * Seek medical advice and treatment for coexisting problems that can worsen asthma symptoms, such as GERD, allergic rhinitis, and sinusitis. * Exercise daily to maximize your aerobic fitness. * Prevent exercise-induced asthma by medicating before exercise. * Eat nutritious foods to maximize your immune defenses against viral and bacterial infections. * Maintain a normal weight. * Get plenty of restful sleep. * Call your doctor at the first sign of asthma symptoms. * Check in with your doctor regularly for breathing tests to make sure your asthma is managed and your medications are working optimally. You hold the key to living well with asthma. Trust your doctor to give you guidance, and then take daily responsibility for your breathing with proven self-care measures.