Swine flu: truth behind a terror:   Swine flu (swine influenza) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza virus (subtype H1N1) that regularly causes outbreaks of influenza in pigs. Influenza viruses are small RNA viruses that infect many mammals, including humans, birds, and swine. Swine flu viruses cause high levels of illness and low death rates in pigs. Swine influenza viruses may circulate among swine throughout the year, but most outbreaks occur during the late fall and winter months similar to outbreaks in humans. The classical swine flu virus (influenza type A H1N1 virus) was first isolated from a pig in 1930.     The virus was a novel strain of influenza which contained genes from five different flu viruses. Before 2009, swine influenza predominately affected swine and was not transmitted often or easily to people. Even in the isolated instances in which swine influenza infected people, it had very limited ability to spread from person to person. Most cases were directly linked to contact with swine through farming or at fairs. But the current "swine flu" outbreak is different. It's caused by a new swine flu virus that has changed in ways that allow it to spread from person to person and it's happening among people who haven't had any contact with pigs.     How does swine flu spread?   Influenza viruses can be directly transmitted from pigs to people and from people to pigs. Human infection with flu viruses from pigs are most likely to occur when people are in close proximity to infected pigs, such as in pig barns and livestock exhibits housing pigs at fairs. Human-to-human transmission of swine flu can also occur. This is thought to occur in the same way as seasonal flu occurs in people. Swine influenza (novel H1N1) spreads from person to person, either by inhaling the virus or touching surfaces contaminated with the virus, then touching the mouth or nose. Infected droplets are expelled into the air through coughing or sneezing.   Early information suggests that swine influenza is about as contagious as the usual human influenza. If one person in a household gets swine flu, from 8%-19% of household contacts will get infected. Reports suggest that swine influenza is causing slightly more infections than would be normal for an influenza season. Based on its wide spread, the World Health Organization has declared the 2009 outbreak of the new H1N1 flu a global pandemic.   People at higher risk: People at higher risk of serious complications include:   • Young children, especially those under 12 months of age   • Elderly people are at high risk of severe flu disease. But relatively few swine flu cases have been seen in people over age 65.   • Pregnant women.   • People with cardiovascular conditions (except high blood pressure)   • People with liver problems   • People with kidney problems   • People with blood disorders, including sickle cell disease   • People with neurologic disorders   • People with neuromuscular disorders   • People with metabolic disorders, including diabetes   • People with immune suppression, including HIV infection and medications that suppress the immune system, such as cancer chemotherapy or anti-rejection drugs for transplants   • Residents of a nursing home or other chronic-care facility   People in these groups should seek medical care as soon as they get flu symptoms.   Symptoms and signs of swine flu:   Symptoms of swine flu are like regular flu symptoms and includes-   - Fever   - Cough   - Sore throat   - Runny nose   - Body aches, fatigue   - Pain in the muscles or joints   - Headache   - Chills   - Many people with swine flu have had diarrhea and vomiting.   - Swine flu can cause neurologic symptoms in children. These events are rare, but, as cases associated with seasonal flu have shown, they can be very severe and often fatal. Symptoms include seizures or changes in mental status (confusion or sudden cognitive or behavioral changes).   Nearly everyone with flu has at least two of these symptoms. But these symptoms can also be caused by many other conditions. So it can’t be diagnosed only on the basis of symptoms. Only lab tests can definitively show whether you've got swine flu, although a negative result doesn't necessarily mean you don't have the flu. Emergency warning signs - As with the seasonal flu, certain symptoms may have required emergency medical attention.   Children should be given urgent medical attention if they:   • Have fast breathing or trouble … [Read more...]