Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Swine Flu


There is a lot of hype in the last few days of the Influenza Virus Strand called Swine Flu. To answer any questions anyone may have- I just wanted to put out a informational blog with facts about the virus. The most common questions I have had are about how you catch the swine flu and is it more harmful than a typical flu. I hope this helps to answer any questions you may have.

Note: To ensure that the facts are correct, the following facts were all taken from the Center of Disease Control http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/key_facts.htm

Swine Flu (now being called H1N1 as this is the particular strand of the influenza virus)

What is Swine Influenza? Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza virus that regularly causes outbreaks of influenza in pigs. Swine flu viruses cause high levels of illness and low death rates in pigs. Swine influenza viruses may circulate among swine throughout the year, but most outbreaks occur during the late fall and winter months similar to outbreaks in humans. The classical swine flu virus (an influenza type A H1N1 virus) was first isolated from a pig in 1930.

Can humans catch swine flu? Swine flu viruses do not normally infect humans. Most people will not have immunity to this new virus. 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). In addition, there have been documented cases of one person spreading swine flu to others. For example, an outbreak of apparent swine flu infection in pigs in Wisconsin in 1988 resulted in multiple human infections, and, although no community outbreak resulted, there was antibody evidence of virus transmission from the patient to health care workers who had close contact with the patient

How does swine flu spread? Influenza viruses can be directly transmitted from pigs to people and from people to pigs. Human infection with flu viruses from pigs are most likely to occur when people are in close proximity to infected pigs, such as in pig barns and livestock exhibits housing pigs at fairs. Human-to-human transmission of swine flu can also occur. This is thought to occur in the same way as seasonal flu occurs in people, which is mainly person-to-person transmission through coughing or sneezing of people infected with the influenza virus. People may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

What are the symptoms of swine flu in humans? The symptoms of swine flu in people are expected to be similar to the symptoms of regular human seasonal influenza and include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and coughing. Some people with swine flu also have reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Can people catch swine flu from eating pork? No. Swine influenza viruses are not transmitted by food. You can not get swine influenza from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork and pork products is safe. Cooking pork to an internal temperature of 160°F kills the swine flu virus as it does other bacteria and viruses.


U.S. Human Cases of Swine Flu Infection(As of April 29, 2009, 11:00 AM ET)
States
# of laboratory confirmed cases
Arizona- 1

California- 14

Indiana-1

Kansas-2

Massachusetts-2

Michigan-2

Nevada-1

New York City-51

Ohio-1

Texas- 16

TOTAL COUNTS
91 cases
1 death
International Human Cases of Swine Flu InfectionSee: World Health Organization

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