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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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H1N1 pandemic virus does not mutate into 'superbug' in UMd. lab study

H1N1 pandemic virus does not mutate into 'superbug' in new lab study

Medicine & Health / Diseases

created Sep 01, 2009 | popularity 4.5 / 5 (4) | comments 2

(PhysOrg.com) -- A laboratory study by University of Maryland researchers suggests that some of the worst fears about a virulent H1N1 pandemic flu season may not be realized this year, but does demonstrate ...


Bacteria wouldn't opt for a swine flu shot

Biology / Cell & Microbiology

created Dec 16, 2009 | popularity 3 / 5 (6) | comments 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.


CDC: About 1 in 6 Americans have had swine flu (Update)

Medicine & Health / Diseases

created Dec 10, 2009 | popularity 2 / 5 (5) | comments 0

(AP) -- Swine flu has sickened about 50 million Americans, and killed about 10,000, according to new estimates released by federal health officials on Thursday.


Gene Hijacked By HIV Ancestor Suggests New Way to Block Viral Reproduction

Gene Hijacked By HIV Ancestor Suggests New Way to Block Viral Reproduction

Biology / Cell & Microbiology

created Dec 07, 2009 | popularity 4.9 / 5 (7) | comments 0

(PhysOrg.com) -- An ancestor of the AIDS virus hijacked an entire gene, perhaps from some prehistoric cat it had infected, a gene that makes it much better able to infect humans, according to a study published ...


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.


pig

Researchers sequence swine genome

Biology / Biotechnology

created Nov 02, 2009 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

(PhysOrg.com) -- A global collaborative has produced a first draft of the genome of a domesticated pig, an achievement that will lead to insights in agriculture, medicine, conservation and evolution.


Bacteria co-infections common in swine flu deaths: CDC

Medicine & Health / Diseases

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

Many people who have died from swine flu in the United States were also infected with other bacteria, including one which can cause pneumonia or meningitis, US health officials said Wednesday.


US says first swine flu vaccine to arrive Oct. 5

Medicine & Health / Medications

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

(AP) -- The first swine flu vaccine should be in some doctors' offices as early as Oct. 5, U.S. health officials said Friday.


Study: Flu shot better than nasal spray in adults

Medicine & Health / Research

created Sep 23, 2009 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

(PhysOrg.com) -- A flu shot is 50 percent more effective than nasal spray vaccine in preventing seasonal influenza in healthy adults, a new University of Michigan study shows.


FDA approves new swine flu vaccine (AP)

FDA approves new swine flu vaccine

Medicine & Health / Medications

created Sep 15, 2009 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

(AP) -- The Food and Drug Administration approved the new swine flu vaccine Tuesday, a long-anticipated step as the government works to get vaccinations under way next month. Health and Human Services Secretary ...


Studies: Swine flu spreads long after fever stops (AP)

Studies: Swine flu spreads long after fever stops (Update)

Biology / Cell & Microbiology

created Sep 14, 2009 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0

(AP) -- When the coughing stops is probably a better sign of when a swine flu patient is no longer contagious, experts said after seeing new research that suggests the virus can still spread many days after ...


Pandemic flu can infect cells deep in the lungs, says new research

Pandemic flu can infect cells deep in the lungs, says new research

Biology / Biotechnology

created Sep 10, 2009 | popularity 3.7 / 5 (3) | comments 1

(PhysOrg.com) -- Pandemic swine flu can infect cells deeper in the lungs than seasonal flu can, according to a new study published today in Nature Biotechnology. The researchers, from Imperial College London ...