Swine flu, what to do?

Biomedical technologies to help the H1N1 influenza pandemic

If I were arriving on campus for a biomedical event I would probably have an interest in how my field could help in solving one of the most important challenges our world faces this winter: surviving the H1N1 influenza, or as more commonly referred to, swine flu.

Thinking about things that could help us prevent the widespread infection of the population in the world and at Penn, I came up with a few good ideas based on the preventive measures outlined by various health organizations.

First of all, having hand-sanitizing or alcohol-based soap dispensers, although it might seem trivial, can really help and is an easy way to wash our hands and prevent the spread of germs. In the same category, having tissue boxes would also help prevent this situation. Another simple step that could be definitive in helping stop the outbreak of swine flu cases is informing people and getting them in quarantine on time. This would mean that if anyone experiences influenza-like symptoms, they should get tested immediately and be isolated so as not to facilitate the spread of influenza.

Moving on to biomedical technologies that could help solve this problem, I can imagine a few ways to cope with this problem. First off, I believe that putting more effort into the vaccine is crucial, especially in trying to decode the way this strain of influenza works. By having a better understanding of this (which could be aided by biomedical technology) we could develop a more efficient vaccine and perhaps even prevent new strains of influenza from affecting us with a single shot. Secondly, I think that having a good health-information organizing system would be crucial to stopping the pandemic that so many epidemiologists think imminent. Being well organized could help with the distribution of vaccines and healthcare throughout the world, prioritizing those areas with greater needs.

I really do believe that precautionary measures can go a long way in helping stop this pandemic, and most of all that we should encourage widespread information as a deterrent of the H1N1 flu.