Swine influenza

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Swine 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

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Six bad reactions to swine flu vaccine in Canada: official (Update)

Medicine & Health / Medications

created Nov 24, 2009 | popularity 3.3 / 5 (7) | comments 4

Six severe allergic reactions to swine flu vaccinations have been observed in Canada, health authorities said Tuesday, adding that all of the individuals are feeling better.


Mutation found in swine flu virus: WHO

Medicine & Health / Diseases

created Nov 20, 2009 | popularity 3.3 / 5 (3) | comments 0

The World Health Organisation said Friday that a mutation had been found in samples of the swine flu virus taken following the first two deaths from the pandemic in Norway.


Scientists find previous seasonal flu infections may provide some level of H1N1 immunity

Medicine & Health / Diseases

created Nov 16, 2009 | popularity 4 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Researchers at the La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology have found that previous influenza infections may provide at least some level of immunity to the H1N1 "swine" flu.


Syringes with influenza virus vaccine sitting on a tray

Google launches online flu shot finder

Technology / Internet

created Nov 11, 2009 | popularity 3.5 / 5 (2) | comments 0

Google on Tuesday launched an online tool for tracking down where to get vaccinations against H1N1 and seasonal influenza in the United States.


'Outbreaks Near Me' app now available for Android mobile phones

Technology / Software

created Dec 01, 2009 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

(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 ...


WHO approves Glaxo's swine flu shot

Medicine & Health / Medications

created Dec 01, 2009 | popularity not rated yet | comments 1

(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.


CDC: Swine flu less widespread, down to 32 states

Medicine & Health / Diseases

created Nov 30, 2009 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

(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.


School closure could reduce swine flu transmission by 21 percent

Medicine & Health / Diseases

created Nov 27, 2009 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

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 ...


WHO says Tamiflu still works against swine flu

Medicine & Health / Medications

created Nov 26, 2009 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

(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.


CDC: Swine flu vaccine safe; no big problems seen

Medicine & Health / Medications

created Nov 25, 2009 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

(AP) -- U.S. health officials say there's no evidence that the swine flu vaccine is causing any serious side effects.


China reports 8 cases of mutated swine flu virus

Medicine & Health / Diseases

created Nov 25, 2009 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

(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.


Trying last-ditch lung bypass for worst swine flu

Medicine & Health / Diseases

created Nov 23, 2009 | popularity not rated yet | comments 1

(AP) -- A technology originally developed for premature babies may be helping to save some of the sickest swine flu patients by rerouting their blood so their lungs can rest.


Swine flu vaccine effective despite mutations: experts

Medicine & Health / Diseases

created Nov 21, 2009 | popularity 1 / 5 (1) | comments 1

Swine flu vaccines are still effective despite reported cases of mutations in the A(H1N1) virus, health experts in Europe and North America said Saturday.


CDC Confirms Four New Cases of Oseltamivir (Tamiflu)-Resistant H1N1

Medicine & Health / Diseases

created Nov 20, 2009 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Tests performed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at the request of infectious disease experts at Duke University Medical Center have confirmed this week that isolates from four patients with H1N1 influenza ...


CDC: Swine flu cases seem to be dropping in US

Medicine & Health / Diseases

created Nov 20, 2009 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

(AP) -- Health officials say swine flu cases appear to declining throughout most of the U.S., but the specter of Thanksgiving gatherings next week makes it hard to predict what will happen next.