Related topics: flu , centers for disease control and prevention , vaccine , world health organization , virus
Swine influenza
hideSwine influenza (also called H1N1 flu, swine flu, hog flu, and pig flu) is an infection by any one of several types of swine influenza virus. Swine influenza virus (SIV) 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 influenza virus is common throughout pig populations worldwide. Transmission of the virus from pigs to humans is not common and does not always lead to human influenza, often resulting only in the production of antibodies in the blood. If transmission does cause human influenza, it is called zoonotic swine flu. People with regular exposure to pigs are at increased risk of swine flu infection. The meat of an infected animal poses no risk of infection when properly cooked.
During the mid-20th century, identification of influenza subtypes became possible, allowing accurate diagnosis of transmission to humans. Since then, only 50 such transmissions have been confirmed. These strains of swine flu rarely pass from human to human. Symptoms of zoonotic swine flu in humans 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.
For more information about Swine influenza, read the full article at
Wikipedia.
This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.
News tagged with swine flu
Study: Swine flu poses a threat to new moms
Dec 23, 2009 |
not rated yet |
0
(AP) -- Swine flu is not only dangerous to pregnant women, but it's a threat to new mothers too, the first study to document this risk shows. An analysis of pregnant women and new mothers who were hospitalized with swine ...
2/3 of Australians unlikely to get vaccinated against swine flu
Dec 23, 2009 |
not rated yet |
0
Australia risks a serious swine flu (H1N1 influenza virus) outbreak with two-thirds (65 per cent) of unprotected Australians stating they're unlikely to get vaccinated against the disease in the next 12 months, according ...
Researchers find new patterns in H1N1 deaths
Dec 23, 2009 |
5 / 5 (4) |
1
Brazilian researchers have performed the first-ever autopsy study to examine the precise causes of death in victims of the H1N1 swine flu.
Nasal swine flu vaccine recalled over potency
Medicine & Health / Medications
Dec 22, 2009 |
not rated yet |
0
(AP) -- Drugmaker Medimmune is recalling nearly 5 million doses of swine flu vaccine because the nasal spray appears to lose strength over time.
Poll finds drop in public concern about swine flu
Dec 22, 2009 |
not rated yet |
0
(AP) -- A new Harvard poll finds that concern about swine flu has waned along with the number of new cases being reported.
How flu succeeds: Investigators identify host factors that help multiple influenza strains thrive
Dec 22, 2009 |
not rated yet |
0
Investigators at Burnham Institute for Medical Research (Burnham), Mount Sinai School of Medicine (Mount Sinai), the Salk Institute for Biological Studies (Salk) and the Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation ...
Global swine flu pandemic deaths pass 10,000: WHO
Dec 18, 2009 |
5 / 5 (1) |
0
The number of swine flu deaths worldwide passed the 10,000 mark about eight months after the pandemic strain was uncovered in April, reaching 10,582, World Health Organisation data showed Friday.
WHO to send swine flu vaccine to poor countries
Medicine & Health / Medications
Dec 17, 2009 |
not rated yet |
0
(AP) -- The World Health Organization plans to start shipping swine flu vaccine to Azerbaijan, Afghanistan and Mongolia in the next few weeks, flu chief Keiji Fukuda said Thursday.
Santa should get off his sleigh and walk, says public health doctor
Dec 16, 2009 |
4 / 5 (1) |
2
Santa should share Rudolf's snack of carrots and celery sticks rather than brandy and mince pies and swap his reindeer for a bike or walk, says a public health expert in the Christmas issue published in BMJ today.
Swine flu vaccine now plentiful in half the states
Medicine & Health / Medications
Dec 16, 2009 |
not rated yet |
0
(AP) -- After weeks of shortages, swine flu vaccine is plentiful enough that nearly half the states now say everyone can get it, not just people in high-risk groups.
Bacteria wouldn't opt for a swine flu shot
Dec 16, 2009 |
3 / 5 (6) |
2
Bacteria inhabited our planet for more than 4 billion years before humans showed up, and they'll probably outlive us by as many eons more. That suggests they may have something to teach us.
Kids' Swine flu shots recalled; not strong enough
Medicine & Health / Medications
Dec 15, 2009 |
not rated yet |
0
(AP) -- Hundreds of thousands of swine flu shots for children have been recalled because tests indicate the vaccine doses lost some strength, government health officials said Tuesday.
Influenza in Africa should not be ignored
Dec 15, 2009 |
not rated yet |
0
Influenza is circulating in Africa, but virtually no information or attention is evident, says a new essay in this week's PLoS Medicine. Maria Yazdanbakhsh and Peter Kremsner argue that the lack of adequate surveillance means ...
Pandemic toolkit offers flu with a view
Technology / Computer Sciences
Dec 14, 2009 |
not rated yet |
0
(PhysOrg.com) -- As communities brace for rising wintertime influenza cases, scientists are developing a mathematical and visual analytic toolkit to help health officials quickly analyze pandemics and craft ...
Soldiers get mass swine flu shots before holidays
Dec 11, 2009 |
not rated yet |
0
(AP) -- Thousands of Army recruits in training must line up at least once more before heading home for the holidays, this time for mass inoculations by the hundreds against swine flu.
