We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here’s our process. Show Swine flu, also known as the H1N1 virus, is a relatively new strain of an influenza virus that causes symptoms similar to the regular flu. It originated in pigs but is spread primarily from person to person. Swine flu made headlines in 2009 when it was first discovered in humans and became a pandemic. Pandemics are contagious diseases affecting people throughout the world or on multiple continents at the same time. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the H1N1 pandemic over in August 2010. Since then, the H1N1 virus has been known as a regular human flu virus. It continues to spread during flu season like other strains of the flu. The flu shot developed each year by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) usually includes a vaccination against a type of H1N1 virus. Read more: Importance of getting a flu shot for flu season » Like other strains of the flu, H1N1 is highly contagious, allowing it to spread quickly from person to person. A simple sneeze can cause thousands of germs to spread through the air. The virus can linger on tables and surface areas like door knobs, waiting to be picked up. The best means of dealing with swine flu is to prevent it. Hand sanitization is important to stop the spread of the virus. Staying away from infected people will help stop person-to-person transmission. Start sanitizing now. When it first emerged, swine flu was most common in children 5 years and older and young adults. This was unusual because most flu virus infections are a higher risk for complications in older adults or the very young. Today, risk factors for getting swine flu are the same as for any other strain of the flu. You’re most at risk if you spend time in an area with a large number of people who are infected with swine flu. Some people are at higher risk for becoming seriously ill if they’re infected with swine flu. These groups include:
Swine flu is caused by a strain of influenza virus that usually only infects pigs. Unlike typhus, which can be transmitted by lice or ticks, transmission usually occurs from person to person, not animal to person. You can’t catch swine flu from eating properly cooked pork products. Swine flu is very contagious. The disease is spread through saliva and mucus particles. People may spread it by: Your doctor can make a diagnosis by sampling fluid from your body. To take a sample, your doctor or a nurse may swab your nose or throat. The swab will be analyzed using various genetic and laboratory techniques to identify the specific type of virus. Learn more: Throat swab culture » Most cases of swine flu don’t require medication for treatment. You don’t need to see a doctor unless you’re at risk for developing medical complications from the flu. You should focus on relieving your symptoms and preventing the spread of the H1N1 to other people. Two antiviral drugs are recommended for treating swine flu: the oral drugs oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza). Because flu viruses can develop resistance to these drugs, they’re often reserved for people who are at high risk for complications from the flu. People who are otherwise generally healthy and get swine flu will be able to fight the infection on their own. Methods for managing the symptoms of swine flu are similar to the regular flu:
Read more: 11 Cold and flu home remedies » Severe cases of swine flu can be fatal. Most fatal cases occur in those with underlying chronic medical conditions, such as HIV or AIDS. The majority of people with swine flu recover and can anticipate a normal life expectancy. The best way to prevent swine flu is to get a yearly flu vaccination. Other easy ways to prevent swine flu include:
It’s important to follow any public health recommendations regarding school closures or avoiding crowds during the flu season. These recommendations may come from the CDC, WHO, National Institutes of Health, or other governmental public health institutions. Flu season shifts from year to year, but in the United States it generally starts in October and runs until as late as May. It usually peaks in January, although it’s possible to get the flu any time of year. Swine flu can affect both pigs and humans. It is a respiratory disease that results from an influenza A virus. The influenza A variant subtype H1N1 is commonly the cause of swine flu in humans. It has similar genetic features to the H1N1 subtype of influenza virus that causes influenza in pigs. Other main subtypes known to occur and cause influenza in pigs include H1N2 and H3N2. There have been infections in humans with these two variant subtypes as well. In 2009, the H1N1 variant became widespread in humans for the first time. Since 2009, the H1N1 virus has become one of the common viruses that circulate each flu season. Many people now have some immunity to the virus. As a result, experts are now less concerned about this type of swine flu than they were in 2009. However, any time a virus affects humans from a different source, it is a concern. Scientists cannot always tell how a new virus will affect people, or how it will change over time.
The symptoms of swine flu are similar to those of regular flu. They include: In severe cases, there may be respiratory failure and death, but this is rare. Most people’s symptoms are relatively mild. However, young children, older people, pregnant women, and those with a compromised immune system may have a higher risk. Find out more about flu here. Scientists developed a vaccine to protect humans from H1N1 after the 2009 outbreak. Since then, protection against H1N1 has become part of the regular seasonal flu shot. Every year, experts try to predict which flu virus strains are likely to circulate during the flu season, which usually peaks in winter. They prepare vaccines according to the types that are most likely to occur. If experts predict that a certain strain of H1N1 could cause a pandemic, health authorities will recommend including a change to this component in the annual flu shot. TheCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend an annual flu shot for everyone aged 6 months or older, barring certain rare exceptions. A doctor can advise on individual needs. Most people recover from H1N1 without extensive medical intervention. In some cases, however, a doctor may prescribe an antiviral medication. These drugs can shorten the duration of symptoms and reduce their severity. People may need these drugs urgently if they:
Steps for managing swine flu symptoms and preventing further infection include:
Anyone who has flu should stay home from work or school while symptoms last. Doctors now consider H1N1 to be a flu strain that can occur in people and spread alongside seasonal flu viruses. A person can catch it if they are in close contact with someone who has H1N1. People who work with swine may have a risk of contracting new types of flu or other diseases from animals. These are known as zoonotic diseases. Risk factorsSome people have a higher risk of flu, including H1N1, or having severe symptoms or complications. These individuals include:
If a doctor suspects that a person may have H1N1 or another type of flu, they may recommend a test to confirm the diagnosis. The rapid influenza diagnostic test can help identify swine flu. However, this test can vary in effectiveness and may show a negative result when a certain influenza virus strain is present. More accurate tests are available in specialist laboratories. Most people do not need more than a rapid flu test, as treatment will be the same, regardless of the test outcome. If a person has flu, the following tips can help prevent further spread:
The annual flu shot can offer protection from various types of flu. Those whose work or lifestyle brings them into contact with swine and other animals should:
Here are some more facts about swine flu: Can I catch swine flu from pork?Swine flu is a respiratory disease that transmits through droplets in the air and on surfaces. It is not possible to catch if from eating properly cooked pork. Could there be another pandemic?Another pandemic of H1N1 swine flu is much less likely now, as people have developed some degree of immunity. Before the 2009–2010 pandemic, there was no evidence that H1N1 had infected humans. Under the right conditions, however, a pandemic can occur if any novel virus moves from animals to humans. The SARS-CoV-19 virus that causes COVID-19, the infection that first appeared in December 2019, is currently being monitored by the World Health Organization (WHO). What does swine flu look like in pigs?Symptoms in pigs include:
Swine flu is common in pigs in the United States, but vaccines are available. |
Which of the following best describes the h1n1 virus passed from a pig to a human
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