As concern for the swine flu virus spreads, officials around the globe are monitoring the situation but cautioning against alarm. As of April 27, at least 20 people in Mexico have died from the H1N1 swine flu virus, and possibly more than 80.
What is Swine Flu?
Swine Flu, or Swine Influenza, is a respiratory illness in pigs caused by type A influenza virus that regularly causes flu in pigs. The viruses cause elevated levels of illness in the animals but yields a low death rate. Although the virus can happen year round, most incidences and outbreaks occur during the late fall and winter months, just like human influenza.
Different variations of Swine Flu have emerged and evolved over time. There are currently four identified main influenza type A viruses in pigs:
- H1N1
- H1N2
- H3N2
- H3N1
The most recently isolated influenza viruses from pigs have been the H1N1 viruses. The first classical swine flu virus, which is influenza type A H1N1 virus, was first identified in a pig almost 80 years ago, in 1930.
How Does the Flu Infect Humans?
Although most Swine Flu does not normally infect humans, sporadic human infections with swine flu do happen. Usually, transmission occurs in people with direct exposure to pigs. The most recent outbreak is of concern because there have been documented cases of one person spreading swine flu to others.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the most common way for the illness to be transmitted is to be in close proximity to an infected person, usually from their coughing or sneezing. If a surface with flu virus on it is touched, then one's nose or mouth, it's possible to become infected as well. The virus can live up to several hours on surfaces in warm, humid temperature.
Confirmed cases of the recent virus have been found in patients in the United States, Canada, Spain, as well as Mexico. Reports from around as far apart as France and New Zealand are being investigated as well.
Cases outside of Mexico appear to be milder. The Swine flu in Mexico seems to be a much more potent disease, even though genetic tests suggest that swine flu viruses there are nearly identical to the cases identified in the U.S. patients.
U.S. officials declared a precautionary "public health emergency," so that the CDC and others can ensure the resources needed to respond quickly and effectively, should the need arise. The declaration of emergency allows the government to begin preparing preventive long-prepared pandemic plans, such as moving large amounts of the anti-flu drugs Tamiflu and Relenza closer to affected states.
The Center for Disease Control states that 11 million courses of anti-viral drugs have been released from the nation's stockpile and are already on the way to affected states as well as other states around the country.
According to Mexican President Felipe Calderon, of the more than 1,400 cases that have been reported since mid-April, about 400 remain hospitalized. More than 100 people have died in Mexico. It is not known how many of the cases that required hospitalization might have been caused by swine flu. Also, there could have been many more cases in Mexico that are mild and have gone unreported.
Steps to Avoiding Contagious Illness:
According to the CDC, there are things that can be done to prevent contracting or spreading illness, including:
- Wash hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
- Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.
- If you get sick, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
How Long Until Symptoms Appear After Being Infected?
Experts agree that the incubation period of this virus in probably no more than a week. Infectious symptoms would probably appear within 7 days after exposure.
The World Health Organization has raised the alert to pandemic as of June 11, 2009. This is the first time the pandemic level has been issued in the last 41 years.
Elizabeth Richards - Elizabeth Richards has published almost 200 articles for Suite101 since 2007 as a Contributing and Feature Writer.
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