Recently, there has been a lot of speculation about the Swine Influenza (Swine Flu). In the following Blog, I hope to answer questions that you may have.
For further information, you can try one of these sites. If you have concerns, please contact your health care provider.
Flu.Gov
A federal government Website managed by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is one of the largest integrated, not-for-profit group practice in the world.
CDC
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The following information has been provided by CNN Health.com
What is swine flu?
Swine influenza, or flu, is a contagious respiratory disease that affects pigs. It is caused by a type-A influenza virus. Outbreaks in pigs occur year-round. The most common version is H1N1. The current strain is a new variation of an H1N1 virus, which is a mix of human and animal versions.
Does swine flu affect humans
While the virus causes regular outbreaks in pigs, people usually are not struck by swine flu. However, there have been instances of the virus spreading to people -- and then from one person to another. The only difference is, says the CDC, transmission in the past did not spread beyond three people -- as it has done this time.
What is behind the spread of the virus this time?
Researchers do not know yet know. People usually get swine flu from infected pigs. For example, farmers handling infected pigs can contract the virus. However, some human cases have occurred without contact with pigs or places they inhabited.
What are the symptoms of swine flu?
The symptoms are similar to the common flu. They include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite, coughing, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
What do we know about human to human spread of swine flu?
In September 1988, a previously healthy 32-year-old pregnant woman was hospitalized for pneumonia and died 8 days later. A swine H1N1 flu virus was detected. Four days before getting sick, the patient visited a county fair swine exhibition where there was widespread influenza-like illness among the swine. How does the virus spread?
The virus spreads the same way the seasonal flu does. When an infected person coughs or sneezes around another person, the latter is put at risk. People can become infected by touching something with the flu virus on it and then touching their mouth, nose or eyes. An infected person can pass the virus to another before any symptoms even develop.
Can swine flu be fatal?
Just like the regular flu, swine flu worsens pre-existing medical conditions in people. So people with already compromised immune systems can die after contracting it.
What does the World Health Organization mean when it says swine flu has "pandemic potential"?
If the virus spreads over a wide geographic area and affects a large segment of the population, it is upgraded from an "epidemic" to a "pandemic."
How can one keep from getting swine flu?
Several everyday steps can help prevent the spread of germs: Washing hands frequently; avoiding close contact with people who are sick; and avoiding touching surfaces that might be contaminated.
Are there medicines to treat swine flu?
Yes, the CDC recommends using anti-viral drugs. They keep the virus from reproducing inside the body. And in an infected person, the drugs make the illness milder.
