My twin sister Jhilya, a microbiologist working in medical communications, writes today about some recent developments in the H1N1 pandemic.  Still several weeks ahead of the expected seasonal flu peak, the Human-Avian-Swine H1N1 flu has already claimed 1,000 American lives and nearly 5,000 worldwide.  Below, an update on recent developments and how to protect yourself.  -Rabiah

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This past weekend, President Obama declared the H1N1 flu outbreak to be a national emergency. But what exactly does that mean?

Declaring this particular flu situation as a national emergency means that the Department of Health and Human Services can use alternate strategies for identifying and treating patients who may need care (for example setting up alternate treatment sites and adjusting triage protocols to meet the needs of a community). It’s somewhat similar to when an emergency is declared after a hurricane, tornado or other natural disaster.

Of serious concern is the fact that H1N1 flu seems to be causing serious problems in young adults, a group that’s usually not at high risk of complications from the ‘regular’ seasonal flu. In 2009, approximately 90% of the hospitalizations and deaths from the H1N1 flu were in patients under the age of 65. With the typical seasonal flu, the opposite is usually the case with 60% of hospitalizations and 90% of deaths occurring in people over 65. Every year, over 30,000 Americans die of flu-related complications, so it’s important to remember that even seasonal flu can be deadly. But the fact that this year’s H1N1 is hitting younger people harder is of concern for doctors and scientists alike.

Structure of the H1N1 flu virus. From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The good news is that, just months after the initial outbreak, there is now a vaccine to protect you from H1N1, But as with many vaccines, there’s been some controversy around it. Because this strain of H1N1 is so new, many people are skeptical that the vaccine against it has been tested properly and that enough safety data has been collected. (Note that the H1N1 vaccine was developed through a reliable and extensively tested protocol used to generate seasonal flu vaccine each year) There is also a problem of availability; while pretty much everyone who wants a seasonal flu shot can get one – at a doctor’s office, local drugstore, or even a school or office building – many providers across the country are sticking to the recommended guidelines for H1N1 recipients. This strategy will help ensure that as mostly higher-risk individuals are receiving the 22 million doses currently available in the U.S., as vaccine makers work to produce enough for everyone.

Why vaccinate? Well, the point of vaccinations is two-fold. One, of course, is to prevent you from getting sick from the flu. But there are larger implications as well. From a public health standpoint, vaccinations help to isolate and eradicate pathogens. In general, eradication is most successful when most or all individuals in a population are vaccinated; a classic example is polio, which, has been essentially eradicated in the US due to a vaccination program that started in 1955. Today, most of us probably don’t know anyone who has polio, and this vaccination program is the reason.

The question everyone is asking now is, “Should I be vaccinated against H1N1?” Americans seem to be split down the middle with almost half saying they will get the vaccine, and the same number saying they won’t. It’s best to talk to your health care provider to decide what’s best for you. It’s important to know that the seasonal flu vaccine won’t protect you from H1N1, nor will the H1N1 vaccine protect you from seasonal flu. So, in theory, if you don’t get either vaccine, you could get the flu twice this year! That’s why I chose to get the seasonal flu vaccine this year for the third year in a row. Still undecided about getting the H1N1, but for now, I’ll take my chances.

-Jhilya  Mayas, Ph.D.

I stumbled across this Indiana Public Media website recently and wanted to share – A Moment of Science is a catalog of short audio and video pieces explaining some of the science behind everyday things. Today I caught up with a piece on chemical signaling in plants in response to damage that is similar to how our own bodies transmit pain signals.  (But don’t worry: grass doesn’t actually feel pain when you mow it.)

The site isn’t new – the archives date back to 2003 – but for some reason I’m just learning about it.  And LOVE it! From how handwashing can actually help some germs make you sick to the science behind the brain freeze, the short-and-sweet stories are perfect for any ages, even younger kids.  This kind of stuff is right up the Science Chicago alley! So, we’ve added it to our favorite links here on the Blog and on the Science Chicago website. Check back often to see new Moments of Science as they are added!

-Rabiah

If you haven’t heard, the Society for Neuroscience (SfN) has been in town since Saturday for their annual meeting.  The group boasts nearly 40,000 members and according to their website is “the world’s largest organization of scientists and physicians devoted to advancing understanding of the brain and nervous system.”  The weekend of oral presentations and posters sessions have highlighted some of the most recent and cutting-edge developments in neuroscience this year, and one such development presented on Monday caught my eye in particular.

A team of researchers have found that spending time on the internet can improve brain function in older adults, after just a few days of surfing.  Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques, scientists imaged the brains of test subjects aged 55-78 before and after spending time on the web. The results, some of which were published late last year, showed marked increases in brain activity in the regions controlling memory and decision-making.  It’s been known for some time that exercising the brain helps keep it healthy and functional as we age – brainteasers and Sodoku have been quite popular in maintaining active neurological function.  These new data are perhaps a welcome sign of the times that the vast online environment can serve this brain-boosting function as well. (I wonder if internet shopping counts…?)

I have one living grandmother; she’s 85, only recently (and reluctantly) stopped driving, and is well on her way to outliving all the rest of us. And remarkably, she’s pretty internet-savvy. She’s had email for years, and I think she googles her grandchildren from time to time. But she’s not yet on Facebook, and still prefers to get her current events in newsprint format…maybe this new finding will convince her to log on more frequently?  (Grandma Iris, if you’re reading this…yes, I’m talking about you:-)

-Rabiah