The World Health Organization  has declared that swine influenza is “a public health emergency of international concern”. We are here to help you understand about the disease.

update: Since the news about the disease is spreading even faster than it does, you can stay up-to-date by following us on Twitter.

Danger level: High

What is it?

Swine influenza (or swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs.

Who gets it?

Normally, swine flu doesn’t infect humans. From December 2005 through February 2009, only 12 people were reported to be infected with swine flu. In most of these cases, these people had direct exposure to pigs. Since March 2009, though, the virus started spreading in humans in San Diego County and Imperial County, California, as well as in San Antonio, Texas and in Mexico. The total number of cases in the US alone in this month was 11 (the same number of humans infected in 4 years).

At the moment, no age, sex or race are known to be related to infection with the swine flu. It is known however, that since it’s spread from person to person through the air, people in contact with those who have gotten the disease are more likely to get it themselves.

What causes it?

To understand swine flu, it’s important to first understand about the influenza virus. Viruses, just like germs, are “bugs” that can spread diseases. Unlike germs, viruses are so small that they can’t be seen under a microscope. Also unlike germs, viruses don’t respond to antibiotics.

The influenza virus has 3 types. One of those is influenza A. This type causes the most severe disease in humans. It usually grows in birds, but can be transferred to other animals/humans and cause outbreaks.

Influenza Virus (from very up-close).

Influenza A has some types of its own, since it has two components on it, one called H and the other called N.

We all know that influenza occurs every year, and even people who were vaccinated against it can get it the next year. Why? Because the virus is “smart” – it can undergo changes in its structure. That’s why new types of vaccines are produced every year.

Once in a while, though, the changes are so big, that even the H and N components in it change. The vaccines can’t handle such changes. Such a change happened in 1918. It was called the Spanish flu and was caused by influenza A whose H and N components were called H1N1. It spread throughout the world and killed between 20-100 million people, since no cure was known then.

The new swine flu also belongs to the H1N1 subtype of influenza A, and contains a combination of genes from swine, birds and human flu viruses.

How does it feel?

The symptoms of swine flu are no different than those of the “regular” human flu. They contain:

1. Fever and chills
2. Body aches
3. Headache
4. Weakness
5. Cough
6. Lack of appetite
7. Other things that can happen include a sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Swine flu can also lead to pneumonia and to a respiratory failure, which can lead to death.

How is it discovered?

To discover if you have the swine flu, a sample from your airways can be taken. It is then sent to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for lab testing.

How is it treated?

There are 4 types of drugs that can treat influenza: amantadine, rimantadine, oseltamivir and zanamivir. The new swine flue is resistant to amantadine and rimantadine, leaving the latter two as treatment options.

What happens after treatment?

Unfortunately, not much is known at the moment. The CDC believes that the drugs mentioned above can cure and prevent the disease.

There is no vaccine at the moment that can protect you from the swine flu. There are steps you can take to lower your chance of getting it or of passing it to others -

1. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
2. Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
3. Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
4. If you get sick with influenza, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.

The following video from the CDC sums it up -

You can use the comments below to discuss any of your fears or personal experiences with the swine flu.

What next?

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