Swine flu or influenza type A H1N1 is a respiratory disease and usually found in pigs. Although the swine flu strain originated in pigs, it is now a human disease and is spreading and can be spread from person to person by coughing and sneezing. It has now become a pandemic and spread worldwide since it emerged in Mexico. Swine Flu is now officially the first flu pandemic for 40 years. Experts are fearing that millions of people will be infected all over the world.
There is a fear that in the future the strain will start to mutate and become more virulent which would pose a great threat to the general public.
What is the Swine Flu situation now?
The worldwide outbreak of swine flu is now at level 6, set by The World Health Organisation and is known as a pandemic, which means that it has spread worldwide. The current outbreak of Swine Flu has spread very quickly worldwide because it is a new type of virus. Humans have very little resistance to this new strain of flu so there are no natural defenses.
Human infection with swine flu, Influenza A (H1N1) viruses has now been confirmed in throughout the world and can be viewed here.
How is swine flu different from common flu or bird flu?
The common flu virus is a common infection found seasonally in the UK and usually spreads over the winter months. In many cases, the flu virus can be an unpleasant but not life-threatening infection. Old and frail people in the UK and worldwide are most likely to be at risk from it.
Bird flu or avian flu is an influenza that is more commonly confined to birds. There have been cases documented that this influenza has spread to humans in the past.
The Swine flu pandemic is likely causes more deaths than either of the above because it is such a new strain and people have low defenses.
How do we prevent Swine Flu spreading?
The spread of swine flu to other humans can be prevented by reducing the spread of germs. Washing of hands regularly, using tissues when coughing and throwing the tissues away immediately.
Is the government doing anything to prevent Swine Flu?
The National Pandemic Flu Service has been launched by the goverment, with swine flu antivirals available at collection points all over the UK. If you think that you may have swine flu symptoms, visit the National Pandemic Flu Service website for more details, or call 0800 1 513 100. Visit the Directgov website for all the latest information.
