NEWS & EVENTS
Dr. Irena Kenneley takes live questions on the swine flu pandemic
A clinical nurse specialist and expert on infection control and prevention, Dr. Kenneley served as a special health expert on 19ActionNews.com in a live chat format to take questions from the public about the swine flu pandemic. She held two different two-hour sessions: the first on Wednesday, April 29, and the second on Friday, May 1, 2009.
Want to make a difference like Irena? The swine flu pandemic has shined a spotlight on public health nurses, individuals who work in a variety of government agencies and community organizations. Explore the MSN in public health nursing and the subspecialty in infection control to learn more.
Read the full PDF transcripts:
Some highlights:
[Comment From Jeff]
Hey I'm going to Germany may 15.. Do I or should I do anything special? Thanks
Infection Preventionist: Hi Jeff: Keep an eye on the CDC travel advisory site--especially when it closer to your time of departure
[Comment From Dja]
What is the difference between the Swine Fli and the regular flu when all the symtems are the same.
Infection Preventionist: DJA: the difference between swine flu and the other flu is not that much both are Influenza A viruses, this one came from pigs--it makes them sick but they don't die--unfortunately none of us have ever been exposed to this virus so we have no immunity
[Comment From mary]
is it safe to eat pork?
Infection Preventionist: Mary: It's absolutely safe to eat pork
[Comment From Dan]
What do you think my chances are of contracting swine flu in my college dormitory? What do you think the spread of the infection would look like through a college campus?
Infection Preventionist: Dan: any crowded areas are potentially at high risk for spread of any respiratory illness. Right now there is no swine flu outbreaks reported in our area, so there's not much you can do but go about your daily business, but this would change if there were new cases springing up--such as avoiding common areas, washing hands frequently, etc.
[Comment From Terry]
Do they have any idea yet how this flu broke out in mexico? What caused it?
Infection Preventionist: Terry: there are researchers and other docs down in Mexico to try to find "patient zero", or the person where the flu showed up first--and they think they found him--he is a school age child who was around swine--and he is also on the road to recovery--it seems to have spread rapidly from this one person!
[Comment From Guest]
I have a family of 4, a 2 yr old, 8 yr old, 39 yr old, and 28 yr old. I wanted to know if we should go and get a flu shot ASAP?
Infection Preventionist: Guest: sorry to say that this year's flu shot doesn't cover swine flu
[Comment From Sanja]
what exactly happens to the body after a person is infected?
Infection Preventionist: Sanja: what happens is that the virus enters the upper respiratory system, and invade our cells. They take over the workings of our cells and actually make them become "virus producing factories", when the virus is ready to be released, the cell explodes releasing many viral particles--the young and middle age people are more affected because their immune systems kick in and actually become "hyper" active to our detriment, which is why the secretions accumulate in the lungs causing pneumonia