Swine Flu Health Alert

Washington, DC -- Not too long ago people were diagnosed with Swine flu when they complained about flulike symptoms in Mexico. While clinicians are busy with the therapeutic aspect of this pandemic, health professionals and others are busy in studying the ontogeny and preventive care to manage this epidemic of global concern.

A recently issued bulletin of World Health Organization (WHO) warned that the time is not far away when the second wave of this flu is going to spread specially in the heavily populated northern hemisphere edges towards the cooler season when flu thrives. It is hard to conclude whether the worst of this pandemic is over or is yet to arrive. The current wave of the flu virus H1N1 (causes swine flu) has been traced down to Mexico; however, since then it has been spread swiftly over 177 countries around the world with more than 182,000 laboratory confirmed cases as per a report published by the WHO. The actual number may be far greater than this count, as WHO has advised countries to give up the counting.

According to an estimate published by the WHO some 1,799 people have died since the H1N1 was first noticed early this year in Mexico and the United States. Concerns over the expanding of H1N1 virus are keeping the health professionals scratching their heads to find out the factors responsible for the dissemination of this pandemic globally.

Mode of transmission of this virus appears rather complicated even though it is believed that it might spread through pork or pork products. Since human-to-human transmission of this virus is possible, we have to make several adjustments in the health and hygiene front, especially those of indoor environments. The indoor environment of a modern building due to lack of natural ventilation have several biological and a-biological entities which might be a good vehicle for carrying this mysterious virus and directly or indirectly help support the extension and dispersal of these minute particles.

Information on the various living and non-living objects in our surrounding play a pivotal role to understand the existence of these sub-microscopic particles. Information on indoor contaminants may be obtained by performing simple tests of air, surface and liquids etc.  These tests are an appropriate step towards addressing the H1N1 related issue when most of the schools in the greater Tampa area are going in session starting August 25, 2009, after the summer break.

According to an estimate published in a local newspaper, about 30% absence is anticipated due to this pandemic in county schools. This is a huge loss of education, work and performance. Environmental evaluation and monitoring of indoor/closed sites become an immediate need, especially when people start complaining about their health conditions, including but not limited to fever, aches, coughing or gastrointestinal problems, etc.

An estimated 30% to 50% of the American population is predicted to suffer from this flu during the upcoming fall and winter season, which may result in as many as 90,000 deaths in the U.S. alone. The President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology are taking appropriate action to prevent and minimize the risk of Swine flu.

Environmental monitoring and evaluation can be performed as easy as 1-2-3 with the help of IAQ Screen Check do-it-yourself tests or detailed environmental diagnostic assessment, collecting and testing the environmental samples obtained from the area of concern or proactive in nature.

For more information on these simple, yet effective kits call 1-800-422-7873 ext 404.

About Environmental Diagnostics laboratory (EDLab):

Alan Wozniak founded Pure Air Control Services, Inc. in 1984 as a small mechanical contracting firm and has since set the industry standard for indoor environmental quality diagnosis, environmental laboratory and remediation. Pure Air Control Services has serviced more than 600 million square feet of indoor environments in over 10,000 facilities.

The Environmental Diagnostics Laboratory (EDLab) (established in 1992) at Pure Air Control Services (PACS) is an AIHA accredited environmental lab offering complete and comprehensive indoor environmental microbiology laboratory services. They include: microbiology, aerobiology, chemistry, allergen assays and microscopy designed to meet all your indoor air needs. EDLab supports IAQ investigations by assisting with strategic sampling plan development and supplying media collection equipment while performing a wide range of environmental analyses.

The company’s expanding client roster includes the General Services Administration (GSA);US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Allstate Insurance; Carrier Air Conditioning; US Naval Air Warfare Center, Orlando; and Naval Air Station - King's Bay, Georgia, and many other Fortune 500 companies, school boards, and city, state, and county governments, making Pure Air Control Services/EDLab the reliable industry leader in IAQ.

For more information on EDLab at Pure Air Services, Inc. please contact Ed Ziegler, VP, at (800) 422-7873 x 804, Dr. Rajiv Sahay, CIAQP, FIAS Laboratory Director EDLab at Pure Air Control Services or visit www.pureaircontrols.com.