What is swine flu?
Swine influenza (also swine flu) refers to influenza caused by any strain of the influenza virus that is endemic in pigs (swine). Strains endemic in swine are called swine influenza virus (SIV). Of the three genera of Orthomyxoviridae that are endemic in humans, two are endemic also in swine: Influenzavirus A (common) or Influenzavirus C (rare). Influenzavirus B has not been reported in swine. Within Influenzavirus A and Influenzavirus C, the strains endemic to swine and humans are largely distinct.
How do people catch swine flu?
Studies are ongoing about how this particular swine flu is transmitted. Flu is generally transmitted through the respiratory tract. Droplets of infected body fluids may carry flu when people cough or sneeze. Studies indicate that masks called N95 respirators, when properly used, filter germs from the breath and hamper the spread of flu. Neither contact with pigs nor eating pork has been linked to the spread of the flu, Fukuda said today. Still, health researchers are working to establish that the virus is spreading from person-to-person.
What are the symptoms of swine flu?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in humans the symptoms of swine flu are similar to those of influenza and of influenza-like illness in general. Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. A few more patients than usual have also reported diarrhea and vomiting.
Because these symptoms are not specific to swine flu, a differential diagnosis of probable swine flu requires not only symptoms but also a high likelihood of swine flu due to the person's recent history. For example, during the 2009 swine flu outbreak in the United States, CDC advised physicians to "consider swine influenza infection in the differential diagnosis of patients with acute febrile respiratory illness who have either been in contact with persons with confirmed swine flu, or who were in one of the five U.S. states that have reported swine flu cases or in Mexico during the 7 days preceding their illness onset." A diagnosis of confirmed swine flu requires laboratory testing of a respiratory sample (a simple nose and throat swab).
Is there a vaccine against the swine flu from Mexico?
Flu vaccines generally contain a dead or weakened form of a circulating virus. The vaccine prepares the body's immune system to fend off a true infection. For the vaccine to work, it must match the circulating, "wild-type" virus relatively closely. There is no vaccine currently that exactly matches the swine flu. The seasonal flu vaccine doesn't appear effective against swine flu, said Richard Besser, acting head of the CDC.
Millions of people in the U.S. were vaccinated against swine flu in 1976. While that was not the same strain of flu as the one from Mexico, people who got the 1976 vaccine or who were exposed to that flu may have enough protection against the swine virus to prevent it or make an infection milder, said Robert Booy, head of clinical research at the National Centre for Immunisation Research & Surveillance in Sydney.
Vaccine makers have contacted the World Health Organization about obtaining samples of the virus needed to make a vaccine. Making flu vaccine can take three to six months, depending on the type of manufacturing. No decision has been made to order a vaccine against swine flu, the CDC's Besser said today.
How to prevent this virus from spreading?
Recommendations to prevent infection by the virus consist of the standard personal precautions against influenza. This includes frequent washing of hands with soap and water or with alcohol-based hand sanitizers, especially after being out in public. People should avoid touching their mouth, nose or eyes with their hands unless they've washed their hands. If people do cough, they should either cough into a tissue and throw it in the garbage immediately, cough into their elbow, or, if they cough in their hand, they should wash their hands immediately. Vaccines that are effective against the current strain are being developed.
Safe Care Campaign reports that hand transmission is one way that germs are carried, not only from one area to another (for instance, a contaminated surface to your nose or mouth, but also from one person to another as when shaking hands). When attending to a patient, it is imperative to wash and/or sanitize hands, not only prior to touching them but afterwards as well.
How do people catch swine flu?
Studies are ongoing about how this particular swine flu is transmitted. Flu is generally transmitted through the respiratory tract. Droplets of infected body fluids may carry flu when people cough or sneeze. Studies indicate that masks called N95 respirators, when properly used, filter germs from the breath and hamper the spread of flu. Neither contact with pigs nor eating pork has been linked to the spread of the flu, Fukuda said today. Still, health researchers are working to establish that the virus is spreading from person-to-person.
What are the symptoms of swine flu?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in humans the symptoms of swine flu are similar to those of influenza and of influenza-like illness in general. Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. A few more patients than usual have also reported diarrhea and vomiting.
Because these symptoms are not specific to swine flu, a differential diagnosis of probable swine flu requires not only symptoms but also a high likelihood of swine flu due to the person's recent history. For example, during the 2009 swine flu outbreak in the United States, CDC advised physicians to "consider swine influenza infection in the differential diagnosis of patients with acute febrile respiratory illness who have either been in contact with persons with confirmed swine flu, or who were in one of the five U.S. states that have reported swine flu cases or in Mexico during the 7 days preceding their illness onset." A diagnosis of confirmed swine flu requires laboratory testing of a respiratory sample (a simple nose and throat swab).
Is there a vaccine against the swine flu from Mexico?
Flu vaccines generally contain a dead or weakened form of a circulating virus. The vaccine prepares the body's immune system to fend off a true infection. For the vaccine to work, it must match the circulating, "wild-type" virus relatively closely. There is no vaccine currently that exactly matches the swine flu. The seasonal flu vaccine doesn't appear effective against swine flu, said Richard Besser, acting head of the CDC.
Millions of people in the U.S. were vaccinated against swine flu in 1976. While that was not the same strain of flu as the one from Mexico, people who got the 1976 vaccine or who were exposed to that flu may have enough protection against the swine virus to prevent it or make an infection milder, said Robert Booy, head of clinical research at the National Centre for Immunisation Research & Surveillance in Sydney.
Vaccine makers have contacted the World Health Organization about obtaining samples of the virus needed to make a vaccine. Making flu vaccine can take three to six months, depending on the type of manufacturing. No decision has been made to order a vaccine against swine flu, the CDC's Besser said today.
How to prevent this virus from spreading?
Recommendations to prevent infection by the virus consist of the standard personal precautions against influenza. This includes frequent washing of hands with soap and water or with alcohol-based hand sanitizers, especially after being out in public. People should avoid touching their mouth, nose or eyes with their hands unless they've washed their hands. If people do cough, they should either cough into a tissue and throw it in the garbage immediately, cough into their elbow, or, if they cough in their hand, they should wash their hands immediately. Vaccines that are effective against the current strain are being developed.
Safe Care Campaign reports that hand transmission is one way that germs are carried, not only from one area to another (for instance, a contaminated surface to your nose or mouth, but also from one person to another as when shaking hands). When attending to a patient, it is imperative to wash and/or sanitize hands, not only prior to touching them but afterwards as well.
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