April 27, 2009
What is Swine Flu?
TFK answers this and other questions about the flu outbreak
By Nellie Gonzalez Cutler
http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/kids/news/story/0,28277,1894138,00.html
On Monday, the World Health Organization (WHO) said that 40 cases of swine flu have been confirmed in the United States. People have fallen ill in several states. All of those who have come down with the flu have either recovered or are recovering. Many of them visited Mexico recently.
The flu is taking a serious toll on Mexico. Officials believe that swine flu may have sickened 1,614 people since April 13. The virus is suspected to have caused more than 100 deaths. The Mexican government has closed all public schools and canceled hundreds of public events in the country's capital, Mexico City. Soldiers handed out six million face masks, hoping the masks will stop the spread of the virus.
Governments around the world are taking steps to stop the spread of the illness. They are questioning travelers and encouraging citizens to take precautions. The WHO is keeping a close watch on the situation. No one wants the illness to become a pandemic (pan-dem-ik), or worldwide outbreak. In 1918, the severe "Spanish flu" killed an estimated 40 to 50 million people worldwide. But the world is better prepared for a flu outbreak today. Antiviral drugs can help fight swine flu. Doctors and hospitals are better equipped than they were 100 years ago.
Here are answers to questions you may have about swine flu:
What is swine flu?
Swine influenza, or flu, is a respiratory disease of pigs. Type A influenza viruses cause it. Humans do not normally get swine flu. But when they do, infections are believed to spread from person to person. The Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) has determined that swine flu is contagious.
How does swine flu spread?
Flu viruses are mainly spread when someone who is infected coughs or sneezes near another person. Droplets from an infected sneeze move through the air. Sometimes people become infected when they touch a surface that is infected and then touch their mouth or nose.
Can I get swine flu from eating pork?
No. The flu is not spread through eating or preparing food.
Are there medicines to treat swine flu?
Yes. Your doctor can prescribe drugs that will help you feel better.
Should I be worried?
Officials say that the swine flu situation is serious. You should take precautions, but there is no need for you to worry. On Sunday, the U.S. government declared a public health emergency. The government is working hard to determine how best to deal with the flu outbreak. More than 12 million doses of flu-fighting medications are being shipped to states. President Barack Obama said on Monday that the threat of spreading swine flu infections is a matter of concern but "not a cause for alarm."
What can I do?
• Wash your hands often with soap or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
• Cover your mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then throw the tissue in the trash.
• If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your arm rather than your hand.
• Let your parents know if you are not feeling well.
• Stay home from school if you are sick.
Max-I think that swine flu is a dangerous disease, because of some people spreading diseases to other people, until many people in the country get the disease and we need to move away. So you can wash your hands when coughing and sneezing, and stay away from other people, and don’t go to places with too many people inside.
2009/07/15
Return of the Blue Whales
Return of the Blue Whales
After decades away, the giant marine mammals have been spotted in the waters off Alaska
By Suzanne Zimbler
Blue whales living in the Pacific Ocean used to travel north toward Alaska for food every spring. But around 1966, the giant mammals stopped making the trip north. Now, after more than 40 years, scientists say blue whales are returning to the northern waters.
Blue Whales' Blue Tale
Blue whales are the largest animals on the planet. The average blue whale is about 80 feet long. That is twice the length of a large yellow school bus. But being huge has not kept these animals safe from harm.
In the early part of the 20th century, an estimated 350,000 blue whales swam the world's oceans. Then whalers began hunting the animals for their blubber. Blubber is a thick layer of fat under the whale's skin that is boiled down to make oil. The animals were hunted almost to extinction. In 1931 alone, more than 29,000 blue whales were killed.
Hunting blue whales was banned in 1966. But recovery has been slow. According to the American Cetacean Society, there are now between 8,000 and 14,000 blue whales in the world. About 2,000 blue whales live in the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of California.
A Whale of a Trip
For decades, blue whales living in the Pacific Ocean have not swum north. "No one had seen blue whales in these waters since the end of whaling," says scientist Jay Barlow. Then, in 2004, three blue whales were spotted in the waters off Alaska. Scientists compared pictures of these animals with pictures that had been taken of blue whales in the waters off the coast of California. They realized that at least one was a match. The same blue whale that had been photographed near California was now swimming near Alaska. Researchers now have evidence that 15 blue whales seen off the coast of Canada and in the Gulf of Alaska are part of the California group of 2,000 animals.
Scientists believe the animals may be traveling north in search of food. Blue whales eat four tons of krill, a tiny shrimplike animal, every day. A change in ocean temperature, which normally occurs every 10 years, may have pushed the krill farther north. "When the food dries up, these animals wander over enormous ranges," said Bruce Mate, director of the Marine Mammal Institute at Oregon State University.
Max-Now that blue whales are getting fewer and fewer, we need to protect them! I think that the whalers are evil, they are doing bad things to the whales, even killing them because they want to eat the whale’s fin! Because of this reason, in the past few months, I saw advertisements on the TV propagate to the people not to kill whales.
After decades away, the giant marine mammals have been spotted in the waters off Alaska
By Suzanne Zimbler
Blue whales living in the Pacific Ocean used to travel north toward Alaska for food every spring. But around 1966, the giant mammals stopped making the trip north. Now, after more than 40 years, scientists say blue whales are returning to the northern waters.
Blue Whales' Blue Tale
Blue whales are the largest animals on the planet. The average blue whale is about 80 feet long. That is twice the length of a large yellow school bus. But being huge has not kept these animals safe from harm.
In the early part of the 20th century, an estimated 350,000 blue whales swam the world's oceans. Then whalers began hunting the animals for their blubber. Blubber is a thick layer of fat under the whale's skin that is boiled down to make oil. The animals were hunted almost to extinction. In 1931 alone, more than 29,000 blue whales were killed.
Hunting blue whales was banned in 1966. But recovery has been slow. According to the American Cetacean Society, there are now between 8,000 and 14,000 blue whales in the world. About 2,000 blue whales live in the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of California.
A Whale of a Trip
For decades, blue whales living in the Pacific Ocean have not swum north. "No one had seen blue whales in these waters since the end of whaling," says scientist Jay Barlow. Then, in 2004, three blue whales were spotted in the waters off Alaska. Scientists compared pictures of these animals with pictures that had been taken of blue whales in the waters off the coast of California. They realized that at least one was a match. The same blue whale that had been photographed near California was now swimming near Alaska. Researchers now have evidence that 15 blue whales seen off the coast of Canada and in the Gulf of Alaska are part of the California group of 2,000 animals.
Scientists believe the animals may be traveling north in search of food. Blue whales eat four tons of krill, a tiny shrimplike animal, every day. A change in ocean temperature, which normally occurs every 10 years, may have pushed the krill farther north. "When the food dries up, these animals wander over enormous ranges," said Bruce Mate, director of the Marine Mammal Institute at Oregon State University.
Max-Now that blue whales are getting fewer and fewer, we need to protect them! I think that the whalers are evil, they are doing bad things to the whales, even killing them because they want to eat the whale’s fin! Because of this reason, in the past few months, I saw advertisements on the TV propagate to the people not to kill whales.
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