What is Swine Flu?

What is Swine Flu? 

Swine Influenza also known as H1N1 flu, Swine flu, Pig and Hog flu is a respiratory disease caused by virus commonly found in pigs throughout the world. Most commonly it is due to H1N1 influenza subtype but sometimes H1N2, H3N1, and H3N2 can also be responsible. The major difference is that the current virus has strains of bird and pig viruses in it, and humans have very low or negligible immunity to it. That is what has made it more likely to become a pandemic virus (that can cause a global outbreak) as it could easily spread from human to human. Swine flu can look like a normal fever as its symptoms are similar to normal human influenza like cold and cough, sore throat, body aches, headaches, chills and fatigue. If diagnosed eairler treatment can be done to avoide further complications.

                     For confirmed case of Swine flu Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) or zanamivir (Relenza) are administered for treatment of virus infection.

Swine influenza virus is very common in pigs worldwide. Approximately 1%-4% of pigs get infected and die from it. The main mode of spread among pigs either direct or indirect contact. In many parts of the world pigs are vaccinated against it.

Types

             The Influenza viruses causing sickness in humans are classified into three types - A, B and C. Type A is most common in pigs and C is rare. Influenza B has not been reported in pigs.

              Swine influenza is commonly of the H1N1 influenza subtype, but sometimes they can come from other types, such as H1N2, H3N1, and H3N2.The recent outbreak of swine flu in humans is of the H1N1 type which is not as dangerous as some other types. It is caused by a new virus that has changed in ways that allow it to spread from person to person and it’s happening among people who haven’t had any contact with pigs.

              Normally swine flu virus does not transmit from pigs to human and do not cause swine flu, although if it happens, antibodies are produced in human blood.

To distinguish from viruses that infects pigs and the seasonal influenza A H1N1 viruses that have been in circulation for many years, The World Health organization (WHO)calls it “pandemic (H1N1) 2009.” The CDC calls H1N1 illness “H1N1 flu”.

             Its official name or scientific name is H1N1 influenza A. The H means hemagglutinin and the N means neuraminidase and the 1s refer to their antibody type. Influenza A is a genus of the Orthomyxoviridae family of viruses, and refers to the fact that the virus is first identified in an animal, usually a pig or a bird. When put together, they describe the 2009-2010 swine flu virus.

Some important things to note:

* Generally Swine flu virus transmits through direct contact with respiratory secretions like coughing and sneezing of a infected person close or near to you.

* Swine flu is likely contagious from one day upto seven days if a person get sick with its symptoms.

* Surfaces such as a doorknob, drinking glass or kitchen counter can also be contaminated if droplets from cough or sneeze fall on them. But these germs survive for only few hours.

* People who are in regular exposure to pigs have increased risk of getting swine flu.

* The swine flu vaccine developed by GlaxoSmithKline is called Pandemrix and the vaccine developed by Baxter is known as Celvapan.

Finally, transmission of the virus doesn’t require you to come into contact with pigs. It can pass from one human to another. According to the CDC (Centre for Disease Control), there is some evidence that people who do come into contact regularly with pigs may be immune to this virus.