Swine Flu

Swine flu is a contagious disease that has been declared as a global pandemic by WHO. This lucid article explains what is swine flu and what are its symptoms, how it is caused and precautions you must take to prevent swine flu. In short, things you must know about swine flu.

What is swine flu?

Swine flu is a new form of the flu that was first detected in people in the United States in April 2009. The virus spread at a fast speed prompting the UN's World Health Organisation (WHO) to declare a pandemic on June 11, the same year.

Swine flu is a respiratory disease, caused by a strain of the influenza type A virus known as H1N1. This H1N1 virus differs from the virus that regularly causes seasonal outbreaks of flu in humans because it contains genetic material from avian, swine and human viruses. Though the swine flu virus originated in pigs it is now wholly a human disease. Swine flu has spread at a fast pace because people have no or little immunity against the new virus. Cases of swine flu have been reported from across the world and the number of people affected by the virus is rising by the day.

How is swine flu caused?

Like ordinary flu, swine flu can spread from person to person by coughing and sneezing. When viral particles expelled by way of coughs and sneezes by infected people are inhaled by uninfected people, catching swine flu becomes imminent. One can also catch the virus after coming in contact with an object or surface that has been handled by an infected person. As in the case of normal flu, people who have the virus can be contagious a day or so before their symptoms start, so they can pass the swine flu virus to others even before they know they are infected.

What are the common symptoms of swine flu?

Symptoms of swine flu virus are similar to those reported in common flu. Besides, just like common flu, the severity of symptoms depends on the individual and on the treatment. Commonly reported symptoms of swine flu are sudden fever above 38ºC (100.4ºF) combined with cough, sore throat, body aches, chills and aching limbs. In some patients respiratory difficulties, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea have also been reported. In the severest cases, swine flu causes pneumonia and worsened chronic medical conditions. The good news is that swine flu is not always life threatening. In fact, some patients only suffer mild infections from the virus and begin to recover within a week.

General precautions to prevent swine flu

Since the scientists are yet to develop a vaccine to prevent swine flu it is imperative to take precautions to prevent the disease. Maintaining hygiene and social distancing is the foremost way of preventing the virus from affecting you. You must wash your hands frequently using soap or alcohol-based gel, cover you face while sneezing or coughing by using clean paper handkerchiefs that are carefully disposed off after use. In addition, you must clean commonly-touched surfaces like door handles, telephones and computer keyboards frequently using normal cleaning products. Face-masks, if used properly, can also be used as a precautionary measure against the swine flu virus. If you fall sick, avoid close contact with people who appear unwell and who have fever and cough and stay indoors, to avoid infecting others.

Medications such as Tamiflu (Oseltamivir) can also be taken as a preventive measure, especially by people who have been exposed to the swine flu virus. Please consult a doctor before taking Tamiflu to prevent swine flu infection.