Swine Flu facts

Swine flu is a disease brought on by the influenza virus that primarily affects pigs in sporadic outbreaks. The virus is rarely fatal in pigs even if it causes serious illness. Influenza viruses remain active in pigs year-round; but outbreaks of the disease are known to occur only towards the end of the year. The virus that causes this disease is known as the influenza Type A H1N1 virus and has been known of since 1930. Here are a few facts that everyone should know about swine flu:

How many varieties of swine flu virus exist?

Swine flu viruses are known for their adaptive nature; this means that they change themselves over time.It is hard to name a number for this reason. The influenza virus from a bird, for example, when it crosses over to a pig, is able to change its genetic make-up over to a new kind, to successfully infect the pig. There are four main swine flu viruses that have been identified in pigs, H1N1, H1N2, H3N2, and H3N1. But only the H1N1 has been identified in the current swine flu outbreak.

By what method does swine flu spread in a population?

Swine flu infections can be transmitted freely between pigs and people when they happen to live in close proximity on a pig farm. Transmission of the virus between humans is now also seen. It is understood to happen in the same way as normal flu does: through airborne droplets emanating from a sneeze or cough.

Have swine flu outbreaks been known of before?

There was an outbreak of swine flu in New Jersey in 1976 among soldiers stationed at Fort Dix. That particular virus hit four soldiers and killed one. The flu hung around for a month or so before it dropped out.

Is it possible to catch swine flu from eating pork?

Eating pork and pork products is completely free from any risk of swine flu if the meat is cooked thoroughly to a uniform temperature of 160°F. At this temperature the swine flu virus and all other organisms are killed.

How is the swine flu diagnosed in a patient?

Diagnosis is done by means of tests done on specimens extracted from the respiratory tract within five days of the appearance of the illness. This is the time when the patient is most likely to have easily-available samples of the virus on his person. Children may have a bigger window when tests are possible, up to a week or so. Specimens are sent to the CDC for testing.

Are vaccines available to help prevent swine flu in humans?

There are vaccines that are available to give pigs protection against the flu. There is no human vaccine as yet. The normal flu vaccine does provide some form of protection, but nothing reliable.

What drugs are effective in treating swine flu infections in humans?

The US has four different approved drugs for use against the influenza virus. They are Oseltamivir, Zanamivir Amantadine and Rimantadine. Every known variety of swine influenza has so far been susceptible to these drugs. The current swine flu virus though is only susceptible to the last two.

Linus Orakles

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