News Update
Quit Smoking to Prevent Human Influenza
2009.05.05
Since the outbreak of A/H1N1 influenza, the public have observed precautionary measures to protect themselves from infection. Smokers, however, can take one more action to prevent this human influenza.
There are scientific evidences that cigarette smoking is a risk factor for human influenza virus infection. In a 1968 studies on a severe epidemic, the prospective survey revealed that daily smokers had a 21% higher odds of influenza incidence. A longer-span study from 1978 to 2003 showed that smoker bear several times higher influenza risk, and the illness incurred was more severe than that of non-smokers. The same study also showed a 2 times to 4 times increase risk of invasive pneumococcal disease in smokers.
Secondhand tobacco smoke exposure was also associated with 3.8 odds of meningococcal disease. In a more recent 2005 studies on H1N1 virus on swine industry workers, studies showed worker who smoked had a 18.7 times odds than non-smoker to associate with H1N1 swine virus. It is to contrast with the odds that worker not wearing gloves was 30.3 odds only. Swine industries, therefore, were encouraged to use personal protective equipment and also to ban smoking to protect workers from infection. Cigarette smoking changes respiratory tract structure and decreases the immune responses, therefore it constitutes a major risk factor for important bacterial and viral infections.
Besides washing hands and wearing mask, the prevention measures of influenza (including A/H1N1) should include cessation plan for smokers. It reduces the infection risk by a large extend, and it also lowers the risks of heart attack, stroke, cancers and many other health problems.
For smokers who are wishing to quit, please browse our smoking cessation link
Reference:
1. Finklea JF, Sandifer SH, Smith DD. Cigarette smoking and epidemic influenza. Am J Epidemiol. 1969;90:390–9;
2. Arcavi L, Benowitz NL. Cigarette smoking and infection. Arch Intern Med. 2004;164:2206–16.
3. Alejandro Ramirez, et al, Preventing Zoonotic Influenza Virus Infection, Emerging Infectious Diseases, Vol. 12, No. 6, June 2006
There are scientific evidences that cigarette smoking is a risk factor for human influenza virus infection. In a 1968 studies on a severe epidemic, the prospective survey revealed that daily smokers had a 21% higher odds of influenza incidence. A longer-span study from 1978 to 2003 showed that smoker bear several times higher influenza risk, and the illness incurred was more severe than that of non-smokers. The same study also showed a 2 times to 4 times increase risk of invasive pneumococcal disease in smokers.
Secondhand tobacco smoke exposure was also associated with 3.8 odds of meningococcal disease. In a more recent 2005 studies on H1N1 virus on swine industry workers, studies showed worker who smoked had a 18.7 times odds than non-smoker to associate with H1N1 swine virus. It is to contrast with the odds that worker not wearing gloves was 30.3 odds only. Swine industries, therefore, were encouraged to use personal protective equipment and also to ban smoking to protect workers from infection. Cigarette smoking changes respiratory tract structure and decreases the immune responses, therefore it constitutes a major risk factor for important bacterial and viral infections.
Besides washing hands and wearing mask, the prevention measures of influenza (including A/H1N1) should include cessation plan for smokers. It reduces the infection risk by a large extend, and it also lowers the risks of heart attack, stroke, cancers and many other health problems.
For smokers who are wishing to quit, please browse our smoking cessation link
Reference:
1. Finklea JF, Sandifer SH, Smith DD. Cigarette smoking and epidemic influenza. Am J Epidemiol. 1969;90:390–9;
2. Arcavi L, Benowitz NL. Cigarette smoking and infection. Arch Intern Med. 2004;164:2206–16.
3. Alejandro Ramirez, et al, Preventing Zoonotic Influenza Virus Infection, Emerging Infectious Diseases, Vol. 12, No. 6, June 2006
