Swine Flu | Influenza AH1N1 Virus Symptom Checker
Swine Flu New Influenza Virus: Influenza A (H1N1)
what is Swine Flu Virus?
Swine influenza (also called swine flu, hog flu and pig flu) is an infection of a host animal by any one of several specific types of swine influenza virus. In 2009 the media labeled as “swine flu” flu caused by 2009’s new strain of swine-origin A/H1N1 pandemic virus just as it had earlier dubbed as “avian flu” flu caused by the recent Asian-linage HPAI (High Pathogenic Avian Influenza) H5N1 strain that is still endemic in many wild bird species in several countries.
A swine influenza virus (SIV) is any strain of the influenza family of viruses that is usually hosted by (is endemic in) pigs. As of 2009, the known SIV strains are the influenza C virus and the subtypes of the influenza A virus known as H1N1, H1N2, H3N1, H3N2, and H2N3. Swine flu is common throughout pig populations worldwide.
Transmission of swine influenza virus from pigs to humans is not common and does not always cause human influenza, often only resulting in the production of antibodies in the blood. The meat of the animal poses no risk of transmitting the virus when properly cooked. If transmission does cause human influenza, it is called zoonotic swine flu. People who work with pigs, especially people with intense exposures, are at increased risk of catching swine flu. In the mid-20th century, identification of influenza subtypes became possible, which allows accurate diagnosis of transmission to humans. Since then, fifty confirmed transmissions have been recorded. Rarely, these strains of swine flu can pass from human to human. In humans, the symptoms of swine flu are similar to those of influenza and of influenza-like illness in general, namely chills, fever, sore throat, muscle pains, severe headache, coughing, weakness and general discomfort. Pigs can also become infected with human influenza, and this appears to have happened during the 1918 flu pandemic.
The 2009 swine flu outbreak in humans is due to a new strain of influenza A virus subtype H1N1 that contains genes closely related to swine influenza. The origin of this new strain is unknown. However, the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) reports that this strain has not been isolated in pigs. This strain can be transmitted from human to human, and causes the normal symptoms of influenza.[
What is an influenza H1N1 virus?
Influenza A(H1N1) virus is a subtype of influenza virus A and the most common cause of influenza (flu) in humans. Some strains of H1N1 are endemic in humans and cause a small fraction of all influenza-like illness and a large fraction of all seasonal influenza. H1N1 strains caused roughly half of all human flu infections in 2006. Other strains of H1N1 are endemic in pigs (swine influenza) and in birds (avian influenza).
In June 2009, WHO declared that flu due to a new strain of swine-origin H1N1 was responsible for the 2009 flu pandemic. This strain is commonly called “swine flu” by the public media.
As of April 30, 2009 the World Health Organization (WHO) began referring to “swine flu” as the new influenza virus as influenza A(H1N1). The pork industry is suffering due to the name of the virus “swine flu” and so the more technical term is being used instead.
Swine flu symptom checker
Take Dr Hilary’s symptom checker to see if you could have any of the symptoms of swine flu
Swine flu does not normally infect us, and has only rarely crossed over into the human population. When it has, it has died out rapidly.
This time however the virus has proved to be more resilient. The Health Protection Agency has said that this particular strain of the virus is highly contagious and has managed to spread quickly from person to person.
If you have recently been to Mexico or parts of America, or you have come into contact with someone who has recently been there, you may have become infected, especially if you are now displaying flu-like symptoms.
Take this quick test to check your symptoms, and find out what you need to do next in the event of infection.
Please bear in mind that the symptoms of human seasonal flu and swine flu are almost identical, so it is important not to get alarmed if you are displaying flu symptoms as they are most likely to be caused by human seasonal flu. However, you should always contact your GP if you suspect you have any type of flu as there can be complications arising from the infection, especially in the very young or the elderly.—Swine flu symptom checker by GM.TV
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Top 20 Laboratory-confirmed cases of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 as officially reported to WHO by States Parties to the International Health Regulations
Cases Deaths
USA————————– 33,902 170
Mexico————————10,262 119
Canada————————7,983 25
United kingdom—————–7,447 3
Chile—————————7,376 14
Australia———————–5,298 10
Argentina———————-2,485 60
Thailand———————–2,076 7
China————————–2,040 0
Japan————————–1,790 0
Philippines———————-1,709 1
New Zealand——————–1,059 3
Singapore———————–1,055 0
Peru——————————916 0
Spain—————————–776 1
Brazil—————————–737 1
Israel—————————–681 0
Germany————————-505 0
Panama—————————417 0
Bolivia—————————–416 0
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