BACKGROUND: On April 15^th, 2009, a ten-year-old girl in California was stricken with an abnormally severe flu virus. Soon, she would be diagnosed with a new, contagious influenza virus called H1N1, otherwise referred to as “swine flu.” By April 26^th, the U.S. government classified H1N1 as a public health emergency, and by June, the flu was had graduated to a global pandemic, as declared by the World Health Organization. The respiratory disease spreads the same way as regular influenza viruses: through person-to-person contact with germs. An estimated 70% of hospitalized H1N1 patients also had pre-existing health conditions, which put them at a high risk for serious complications. Such conditions include Diabetes, kidney and heart disease, asthma, and pregnancy. (Source: flu.gov)

SYMPTOMS OF H1N1: H1N1 is known to cause mild to severe flu symptoms such as sore throat, stuffy nose, body aches, chills, fatigue, fever, vomiting and diarrhea. When recognizing these symptoms, it is also important to keep certain emergency warning signs in mind. In children, these may include withdrawn behavior, breathing difficulties or rapid breathing, heavy or prolonged vomiting, difficulty waking up or extreme irritability. In adults, they may include a feeling of pressure in the abdomen or chest, breathing difficulties, general confusion, sudden spells of dizziness, and heavy vomiting.

PREVENTION: The most important thing you can do to prevent H1N1 is to get the latest flu vaccination. After receiving that, you must be vigilant in avoiding person-to-person flu germs, which are spread by the coughing and sneezing of infected people. Avoid touching your mouth, eyes and nose after touching surfaces or objects in public and, conversely, cover your nose and mouth when you must sneeze, making sure to dispose of the tissue properly. Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly or apply hand sanitizer, especially following a sneeze or cough. If you are sick, stay home until you are no longer contagious – which is usually 24 hours following the break of your fever.

COMPLEMENT PROTEIN: According to cancer.gov, the complement protein belongs to a group of around 20 blood proteins, which aid in the fight against infection and disease. Complement proteins work by binding to harmful germs and transmitting signals to alert other infection and disease fighting agents in the body.