Indian Medical Community

2009 outbreak in humans

The H1N1 viral strain implicated in the 2009 flu pandemic among humans often is called "swine flu" because initial testing showed many of the genes in the virus were similar to influenza viruses normally occurring in North American swine. Further research has shown that three-quarters or six out of the eight gene segments of the 2009 virus arose from the 1998 North American swine flu strains which emerged from the first-ever reported triple-hybrid virus of 1998.

1988 zoonosis

In September 1988, a swine flu virus killed one woman and infected others. 32-year old Barbara Ann Wieners was eight months pregnant when she and her husband, Ed, became ill after visiting the hog barn at a county fair in Walworth County, Wisconsin. Barbara died eight days later, after developing pneumonia. The only pathogen identified was an H1N1 strain of swine influenza virus. Doctors were able to induce labor and deliver a healthy daughter before she died. Her husband recovered from his symptoms.

1976 U.S. outbreak

On February 5, 1976, in the United States an army recruit at Fort Dix said he felt tired and weak. He died the next day and four of his fellow soldiers were later hospitalized. Two weeks after his death, health officials announced that the cause of death was a new strain of swine flu. The strain, a variant of H1N1, is known as A/New Jersey/1976 (H1N1). It was detected only from January 19 to February 9 and did not spread beyond Fort Dix.

The 1918 flu pandemic (the Spanish Flu) was an influenza pandemic that spread widely across the world. Historical and epidemiological data are inadequate to identify the geographic origin. Most victims were healthy young adults, in contrast to most influenza outbreaks which predominantly affect juvenile, elderly, or weakened patients. The flu pandemic was implicated in the outbreak of encephalitis lethargica in the 1920s.

History

Swine influenza was first proposed to be a disease related to human influenza during the 1918 flu pandemic, when pigs became sick at the same time as humans. The first identification of an influenza virus as a cause of disease in pigs occurred about ten years later, in 1930.[18] For the following 60 years, swine influenza strains were almost exclusively H1N1. Then, between 1997 and 2002, new strains of three different subtypes and five different genotypes emerged as causes of influenza among pigs in North America. In 1997–1998, H3N2 strains emerged. These strains, which include genes derived by reassortment from human, swine and avian viruses, have become a major cause of swine influenza in North America. Reassortment between H1N1 and H3N2 produced H1N2. In 1999 in Canada, a strain of H4N6 crossed the species barrier from birds to pigs, but was contained on a single farm.

Classification

Of the three genera of influenza viruses that cause human flu, two also cause influenza in pigs, with influenza A being common in pigs and influenza C being rare.[4] Influenza B has not been reported in pigs. Within influenza A and influenza C, the strains found in pigs and humans are largely distinct, although because of reassortment there have been transfers of genes among strains crossing swine, avian, and human species boundaries.

Swine influenza (also called pig influenza, swine flu, hog flu and pig flu) is an infection by any one of several types of swine influenza virus. Swine influenza virus (SIV) or S-OIV (swine-origin influenza virus) is any strain of the influenza family of viruses that is endemic in pigs. As of 2009, the known SIV strains include influenza C and the subtypes of influenza A known as H1N1, H1N2, H3N1, H3N2, and H2N3.

Swine Flu Prevention

* The best way to avoid the swine flu is to wash your hand thoroughly and often

* Avoid being in contact with someone who may have the flu or been exposed to the flu

* Avoid large crowds if there is a breakout in your city

* Shop on days and times when there will be less people there (Sundays & Tuesdays)

* Avoid touching your eyes, nose & mouth

* Get plenty of rest

* If possible try to avoid stress which can lower your immune system

* Eat as healthy as possible - fresh fruits & veggies

* Drink plenty of fresh water

* Take immune boosting supplements & vitamins

* Before traveling check the Healthmap (shown below) to see if there is a current outbreak so you can take precautions

* Listen to the news, CDC, WHO and other resources listed on this page

Basically take the same precautions that you would take during the normal cold & flu season.

The swine flu is just a flu, but just like any flu there can be serious symptoms and it can be deadly. Even if you you are not concerned about catching H1N1 you should still take measures to protect yourself and your family members.

You won't be any good to another family member if they get sick and you are too sick to take care of them.

Swine Flu Symptoms & Facts

* Swine flu is a respiratory illness & mostly has same symptoms as a standard flu

* You can not get swine flu from eating pork

* The Swine Flu like other flu variations is highly contagious

* The swine flu is a virus - don't ask your doctor for antibiotics - there are specific medications like Tamiflu which may help to alleviate the symptoms and severity.

* The Swine Flu is a type A influenza (H1N1)

* Symptoms of the swine flu are include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Also sometimes diarrhea and vomiting.

* The duration of the swine flu is about 7 days

* Coughing & sneezing on someone is usually the fastest way the flu can be spread.

* The flu germs can also be picked up on places where someone had sneezed such as a keyboard, telephone, door knob - clean surfaces with alcohol or antibacterial wipes whenever possible

If you suspect that you or a loved one may have contracted swine flu contact your doctor. There are medications that can help ease the symptoms of the virus.

The Swine Flu, H1N1 Virus, outbreak has brought about a bit of a panic feeling among many people. The information on this page about swine flu will help keep you in touch with important resources and knowledgeable about the actual facts of swine flu. The first thing that you need to do is to CALM DOWN & DON'T PANIC The swine flu is just another strain of the flu!