"Prevention is always better than cure"
What is Swine Flu?
Also called Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza virus that regularly causes outbreaks of influenza in pigs. Simply put, Swine Flu is a highly contagious acute respiratory disease normally found in pigs. Also caused by the orthomyxovirus thought to be the same viurs that caused the 1918 influenza pandemic.
How does Swine Flu spread?
Influenza viruses can be directly transmitted from pigs to people and from people to pigs. It spreads through tiny particles in the air or by direct contact.
Can humans catch Swine Flu?
Swine flu viruses do not normally infect humans. However, sporadic human infections with swine flu have occurred. Most commonly, these cases occur in persons with direct exposure to pigs (e.g. children near pigs at a fair or workers in the swine industry).
Can people catch swine flu from eating pork?
No. Swine influenza viruses are not transmitted by food; you cannot get swine influenza from eating pork or pork products.
What are the symptoms of Swine Flu in humans?
Some people with swine flu also have reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea as symptoms.
How about the symptoms of Swine Flu in pigs?
Like humans, pigs get the flu. They develop a sudden fever, a barking cough, sneezing, lethargy and typically lose their appetite. Not every animal infected displays symptoms.
Short history of the Swine Flu.
The classical swine flu virus (an influenza type A H1N1 virus) was first isolated from a pig in 1930. Most swine flu viruses belong to the Influenza A H1N1 and H3N2 subtypes.
When does Swine Flu outbreak usually occur?
Swine influenza viruses circulate among pigs throughout the year, but most outbreaks occur during the late fall and winter, just like with outbreaks in humans.
Swine Flu tips and FAQs
I got the flu shot this year. Am I protected?
No. H1N1 swine flu viruses are very different from human H1N1 viruses and, therefore, vaccines for human flu would not provide protection from H1N1 swine flu viruses.
Is this a new kind of swine flu?
Yes. The CDC reports that the virus in these latest cases is a never-before-seen mixture of viruses typical among pigs, birds and humans.
The influenza A H1N1 virus contains DNA typical to avian, swine and human viruses, including elements from European and Asian swine viruses.
Although it's called swine flu, this new strain is not infecting pigs and has never been seen in pigs.
What are signs of swine flu in pigs?
Signs of swine flu in pigs can include sudden onset of fever, depression, coughing (barking), discharge from the nose or eyes, sneezing, breathing difficulties, eye redness or inflammation, and going off feed.
How do we prevent Swine Flu from spreading or infecting us?
To prevent it, the CDC urges hand-washing, plenty of sleep, and drinking plenty of fluids. (You can't get it from pork, if you're wondering, although you may recall that pigs have also now been found to carry "superbugs.")
Is there a cure or vaccine?
Vaccines are available to be given to pigs to prevent swine influenza. There is no vaccine to protect humans from swine flu. The seasonal influenza vaccine will likely help provide partial protection against swine H3N2, but not swine H1N1 viruses.
What medication should we take?
There are four different antiviral drugs that are licensed for use in the US for the treatment of influenza: amantadine, rimantadine, oseltamivir and zanamivir. While most swine influenza viruses have been susceptible to all four drugs, the most recent swine influenza viruses isolated from humans are resistant to amantadine and rimantadine. At this time, CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir or zanamivir for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with swine influenza viruses.
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Swine Flu information sources:
http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/key_facts.htm
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090424/swine_flu_090424/20090424?hub=Health
Related news about the Swine Flu:
Philippines warns on hugs, kisses over flu fear
Swine Flu alarms world
Swine Flu hits Pangasinan
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2 comments:
Hi were peachgrove intermeditate students in new zealand
and we are doing a project about swine flu and wondering if u can answer some of our questions!!!
does swine flu come from pigs!!!!!
your blog give nice information now i understood what is Swine Flu? thanks
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