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May 12, 2009 Print
The Basic Facts About Swine Flu
What we know now and what you need to know to keep your business, your employees and your customers as safe as possible.
Category: Public Health
Posted by: Sani-Service
What is Swine Influenza?
As the name implies, swine flu is a strain of influenza virus that is normally found in pigs. The 2009 swine flu is unique in that it appears to be a combination of previously distinct flu strains – one of which is normally found among humans, one which comes from pigs and one that is associated with birds. Typically, swine flu does not infect humans, with most cases occurring due to direct contact with pigs. However, this virus has developed the ability to pass from pigs to humans and from human to human. This makes a wide scale outbreak far more likely.
Why is this flu causing so much concern?
The 2009 swine flu is a new virus that humans have no immunity to. This H1N1 virus has shown the ability to spread from human to human more efficiently than past strains. This ability can lead to a pandemic where the virus passes from human to human across a wide geography and over a sustained period of time. National governments along with the World Health Organization (WHO) are concerned with the unknown when it comes to the 2009 swine flu. There are no simple answers when it comes to how severe and established the virus is or can become. Many questions still remain regarding the current form of swine influenza. Why does it seem to be more severe in Mexico? Why do the healthy seem to be affected more severely than the elderly or those with a weakened immune system? Will the virus change or mutate, becoming more or less dangerous? It’s the unknown and the inability to predict the course of a virus that concerns healthcare professionals.
How fast is Swine Flu spreading?
This is one of the questions that concerns healthcare professionals. New cases of the virus continue to grow in the United States and internationally. Due to the spread of the virus globally, the WHO has raised the pandemic alert level to 4 out of a possible 6. This means that the virus can pass person-to-person and cause local community outbreaks. To help contain the spread of the swine flu, authorities in Mexico and across the globe have initiated travel warnings to hot spots and canceled public events and gatherings.
How does it spread?
While the H1N1 strain of influenza virus is new, the way that it spreads through the population remains the same. Similar to the standard flu, the swine flu’s germs are transmitted when people come in contact with an infected person or object and then touching their eyes, mouth or nose. Infected individuals can pass their germs a day before they start to show symptoms themselves and for up to seven days after. For this reason, the CDC and other healthcare professionals believe the best way to combat the virus and prevent its spread is to wash hands frequently, minimize physical contact with others and minimize hand contact with your own face. It must also be noted that the swine flu is an airborne virus. This means that the virus can spread and infect others through droplets that radiate out through coughing and sneezing. To help combat this, always sneeze or cough into your hand, arm, or tissue and immediately wash afterwards. Studies also suggest that keeping a greater distance among strangers and not attending crowded public events or places with poor air circulation may be of some benefit.
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms associated with swine flu are the same as symptoms of ordinary flu. The most common symptoms are fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills, fatigue, and loss of appetite. Some infected with the swine flu have reported vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more the exception than the rule. Also note that these symptoms can vary in severity depending on the health of the individual infected.
Can people catch swine flu from eating pork?
No. Pork, bacon, ribs and other related products that come from pigs are safe to eat when cooked properly.
I was vaccinated for flu in the fall. Am I protected?
Not likely. The H1N1 virus or swine flu is a new strain of virus. This means that humans have not come in contact with this virus before, even if they’ve been previously vaccinated for other flu strains.
What medications are available to treat swine flu infections in humans?
The drugs Tamiflu and Relenza are the two antiviral drugs that seem to have the greatest impact when treating swine flu. If one of these two drugs is taken within 48 hours after the onset of symptoms, the effectiveness of the drugs increases dramatically. However, most people who have been infected with the H1N1 virus will not need to receive any medication to get better. For these people, rest and plenty of fluids will be the only prescription they need.
What can I do to reduce my chances of catching it?
Click here for more information about what you can do to help protect yourself, your employees and your customers from the swine flu and other communicable illnesses.
Where can I get more information about the flu?
The information in this article has been compiled from data provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, related authorities and our own staff of hygiene experts. Please note, however, that the situation is evolving and what we know about the swine flu is evolving with it. For the most reliable, up-to-date information, please consult the following links:
• CDC main swine flu page – http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/
• World Health Organization main page - http://www.who.int/en/
• Workplace questions – http://www.pandemicflu.gov/faq/workplace_questions/
As the name implies, swine flu is a strain of influenza virus that is normally found in pigs. The 2009 swine flu is unique in that it appears to be a combination of previously distinct flu strains – one of which is normally found among humans, one which comes from pigs and one that is associated with birds. Typically, swine flu does not infect humans, with most cases occurring due to direct contact with pigs. However, this virus has developed the ability to pass from pigs to humans and from human to human. This makes a wide scale outbreak far more likely.
Why is this flu causing so much concern?
The 2009 swine flu is a new virus that humans have no immunity to. This H1N1 virus has shown the ability to spread from human to human more efficiently than past strains. This ability can lead to a pandemic where the virus passes from human to human across a wide geography and over a sustained period of time. National governments along with the World Health Organization (WHO) are concerned with the unknown when it comes to the 2009 swine flu. There are no simple answers when it comes to how severe and established the virus is or can become. Many questions still remain regarding the current form of swine influenza. Why does it seem to be more severe in Mexico? Why do the healthy seem to be affected more severely than the elderly or those with a weakened immune system? Will the virus change or mutate, becoming more or less dangerous? It’s the unknown and the inability to predict the course of a virus that concerns healthcare professionals.
How fast is Swine Flu spreading?
This is one of the questions that concerns healthcare professionals. New cases of the virus continue to grow in the United States and internationally. Due to the spread of the virus globally, the WHO has raised the pandemic alert level to 4 out of a possible 6. This means that the virus can pass person-to-person and cause local community outbreaks. To help contain the spread of the swine flu, authorities in Mexico and across the globe have initiated travel warnings to hot spots and canceled public events and gatherings.
How does it spread?
While the H1N1 strain of influenza virus is new, the way that it spreads through the population remains the same. Similar to the standard flu, the swine flu’s germs are transmitted when people come in contact with an infected person or object and then touching their eyes, mouth or nose. Infected individuals can pass their germs a day before they start to show symptoms themselves and for up to seven days after. For this reason, the CDC and other healthcare professionals believe the best way to combat the virus and prevent its spread is to wash hands frequently, minimize physical contact with others and minimize hand contact with your own face. It must also be noted that the swine flu is an airborne virus. This means that the virus can spread and infect others through droplets that radiate out through coughing and sneezing. To help combat this, always sneeze or cough into your hand, arm, or tissue and immediately wash afterwards. Studies also suggest that keeping a greater distance among strangers and not attending crowded public events or places with poor air circulation may be of some benefit.
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms associated with swine flu are the same as symptoms of ordinary flu. The most common symptoms are fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills, fatigue, and loss of appetite. Some infected with the swine flu have reported vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more the exception than the rule. Also note that these symptoms can vary in severity depending on the health of the individual infected.
Can people catch swine flu from eating pork?
No. Pork, bacon, ribs and other related products that come from pigs are safe to eat when cooked properly.
I was vaccinated for flu in the fall. Am I protected?
Not likely. The H1N1 virus or swine flu is a new strain of virus. This means that humans have not come in contact with this virus before, even if they’ve been previously vaccinated for other flu strains.
What medications are available to treat swine flu infections in humans?
The drugs Tamiflu and Relenza are the two antiviral drugs that seem to have the greatest impact when treating swine flu. If one of these two drugs is taken within 48 hours after the onset of symptoms, the effectiveness of the drugs increases dramatically. However, most people who have been infected with the H1N1 virus will not need to receive any medication to get better. For these people, rest and plenty of fluids will be the only prescription they need.
What can I do to reduce my chances of catching it?
Click here for more information about what you can do to help protect yourself, your employees and your customers from the swine flu and other communicable illnesses.
Where can I get more information about the flu?
The information in this article has been compiled from data provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, related authorities and our own staff of hygiene experts. Please note, however, that the situation is evolving and what we know about the swine flu is evolving with it. For the most reliable, up-to-date information, please consult the following links:
• CDC main swine flu page – http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/
• World Health Organization main page - http://www.who.int/en/
• Workplace questions – http://www.pandemicflu.gov/faq/workplace_questions/