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
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News tagged with swine flu
Hajj devil stoning ritual biggest swine flu risk
Nov 28, 2009 |
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(AP) -- Millions of Muslim pilgrims, many wearing surgical masks, jostled together shoulder-to-shoulder furiously casting pebbles at stone walls representing the devil Saturday - the hajj ritual of highest ...
'Outbreaks Near Me' app now available for Android mobile phones
Dec 01, 2009 |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- "Outbreaks Near Me," an up-to-the-minute disease-tracking system released as an iPhone application in September, is now available for use on Android mobile phones, greatly increasing the number of people ...
China reports 8 cases of mutated swine flu virus
Nov 25, 2009 |
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(AP) -- China has detected eight people infected with mutated forms of the swine flu virus, a health official said Wednesday, but flu drugs and vaccines still work against it.
CDC: Swine flu vaccine safe; no big problems seen
Medicine & Health / Medications
Nov 25, 2009 |
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(AP) -- U.S. health officials say there's no evidence that the swine flu vaccine is causing any serious side effects.
WHO says Tamiflu still works against swine flu
Medicine & Health / Medications
Nov 26, 2009 |
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(AP) -- The World Health Organization says isolated cases of drug-resistant swine flu in Britain and the United States have not changed the agency's assessment of the disease.
School closure could reduce swine flu transmission by 21 percent
Nov 27, 2009 |
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A survey carried out in eight European countries has shown that closing schools in the event of an infectious disease pandemic could have a significant role in reducing illness transmission. Researchers writing in the open ...
CDC: Swine flu less widespread, down to 32 states
Nov 30, 2009 |
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(AP) -- A new government report says swine flu infections seem to be dropping, but the number of children who died with the illness rose by about 30.
WHO approves Glaxo's swine flu shot
Medicine & Health / Medications
Dec 01, 2009 |
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(AP) -- Drug giant GlaxoSmithKline says one of its swine flu vaccines has been certified by the World Health Organization, making it available for donors to buy for developing countries.
