Health Care

by Raymond Koen

What is Swine Influenza?

Swine influenza (Swine flu) refers to influenza cases that are caused by Orthomyxoviruses endemic to populations of pigs. The viruses are referred to as Swine influenza viruses (SIV). The distinction is not based on phylogeny. SIV strains isolated to date have been classified either as Influenzavirus C or one of the various subtypes of the genus Influenzavirus A.

Swine Influenza, unlike bird flu, is able to pass from human to human contact.

Influenza A virus subtypes H1N1, H1N2, H3N1 and H3N2 are all known to cause SIV infections.Also recently H2N3.[5]

Swine flu is usually diagnosed only in pigs or people in regular contact with them. Swine Flu is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza. Swine flu is caused by a virus similar to the regular flu virus that circulates in people every year, but is a strain that is typically found only in pigs or in people who have direct contact with pigs. Swine flu is an infamous disease in public health circles.

Is Swine Influenza a Threats to Human?

See the video below may give you some ideas on the urgency of this matters:


Although immunity to swine H1N1 viruses is low in the human population, ahigh proportion of persons occupationally exposed to pigs (such as pig farmers or pig veterinarians) have been shown in several studies to have antibody evidence of prior swine H1N1 flu infection. And, for swine H1N1 viruses, only rare person-to-person transmission has been documented in the past. At least 854 people have been sickened and 62 have died from flu-like illness in Mexico City and two other locations in Mexico, prompting fears of an outbreak of swine flu, officials said today. An unusual strain of swine flu has been detected among victims of a large outbreak of a severe respiratory illness in Mexico, prompting global health officials, fearful of a potential flu pandemic, to scramble yesterday to try to contain the virus. Mexico City on alert over swine flu outbreak CNN.

How to Prevent Swine Flu?

Citizens can do a lot to help prevent swine flu virus from spreading. More education and awareness is needed. Persuade your family and friends to follow some reasonable guidelines. Do not panic, throughout history many small outbreaks have not turned into pandemics.

Stay at home and avoid exposure to open air, otherwise you should wearing a swine flu masks to protect yourself from virus spreading in the public places. As in Mexico, while bars and nightclubs filled up as usual, even some teenagers were dancing with surgical masks on. Face masks mighthelp reduce transmission in swine influenza pandemic.

Plenty of sleep, rest, and good food might also help to increase your immunity.

About the Author

It's recommended to wear swine flu masks to protect yourself from swine influenza virus spreading in the public places.