It was controlled in 1976, 2005, 2006 and wasn't talked much about because the cure was easy to be made for it. Except the one spreading now. Influenza viruses, generally, tend to change shapes and forms so the body immune won't find them easily.The new Swine H1N1 Virus is a mixture of bird, swine and human viruses merged inside the pig's respiratory system creating a strong fatal virus with an almost impossible cure.
The pandemic started showing in Mexico, then reported in US, then in New Zealand, and now in Canada. It's obviously spreading fast before the cure is found killing almost 150 infected in the world (WHO) since 24th of April 2009.
This is not an average Influenza, we were scared to the bones when we heard about the Mad Cow Disease and then about the Bird Flu, well, this is so far the scariest one. Originally Swine Flu only infects pigs, but unfortunately the one that has evolved now is able to pass the infection from pigs and humans and from humans to humans.
What is Swine Flu?
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.
Sporadic swine influenza A virus (SIV) infection of humans may produce a wide range of clinical signs and symptoms. Many human cases of swine influenza A virus infection have had a history of recent direct physical contact with pigs prior to illness onset. However, close (within 6 feet), but not direct contact with pigs, also has been reported among human swine influenza A virus cases. Limited, non sustained human-to-human swine influenza A virus transmission has been documented in the published literature. In addition, some confirmed swine influenza A virus cases have not had a history of exposure to pigs.
What are the Symptoms?
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.
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.
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 (70°C) kills the swine flu virus as it does other bacteria and viruses.
How to Prevent Swine Flu?
Prevention is always better than cure, please consider the following:
- Always cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing; ideally use something disposable like a tissue. Avoid touching your face, nose or mouth too frequently with your hands since swine flu appears to be transmitted through respiratory droplets in the same fashion as the common cold.
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and water since swine flu like other viruses can be contracted by touching objects contaminated by the virus. It's unsure how long the swine flu virus can survive on surrounding surfaces.
- Though alcohol based hand sanitizers don't routinely kill viruses they probably do offer some limited protection in preventing swine flu infections.
- If swine flu infections have been medically confirmed in your area consider avoiding large public gatherings. Individuals can be contagious with the swine flu virus for several day before demonstrating any signs or symptoms of infection. Be particularly careful about indoor gatherings where air circulates poorly.
- If you're really paranoid and don't mind looking odd then consider wearing a respiratory mask. This barrier method does offer some basic protection against infection though not all masks are created equally. Higher quality masks capable of filtering out some respiratory infections are more expensive.
- If you start feeling ill with cold or flu-like symptoms do not go to work. Stay home and begin the usual home remedies for colds and flu. Contact your health care provider, local health department or hospital emergency room if your symptoms worsen or fail to improve for information about where to go to be screened for possible swine flu infection.
Is There a Treatment for the Swine Flu?
There are four different antiviral drugs that are licensed for use in the US for the treatment of influenza: amantadine, rimantadine, oseltamivir and zanamivir. While most swine influenza viruses have been susceptible to all four drugs, the most recent swine influenza viruses isolated from humans are resistant to amantadine and rimantadine. At this time, CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir or zanamivir for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with swine influenza viruses.
Remember -- This is a pandemic, it is an epidemic outbreak that will affect large groups to the extent of entire countries and continents and it's spreading really really fast so it's not something to be taken lightly. Hopefully they will find a cure quickly before it affects more because it's estimated that if the outbreak isn't controlled or cured within 100, atleast 2,000,000 deaths will be reported worldwide. So for now, all I know is that it's not controlled, it will be cured soon enough hopefully. Everyone just take care and follow the simple guidelines so it's easier to be controlled.
