Swine Influenza (Flu)

Swine Influenza (Flu) also known as swine flu refers to influenza caused by a virus which is endemic in pigs (swine). 

The Swine flu is originally a disease of pigs which has mutated into a variant able to infect humans. The swine influenza A ( H1N1) is contagious to humans and has shown to spread easily between people.

The main route of transmission comes via person to person through coughing or sneezing of people infected with the swine influenza virus. It is also likely to spread buy touching something with the virus on it and then touching the mouth or nose.

 Infectious Period

Persons with swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection should be considered potentially contagious for up to 7 days following illness onset. Persons who continue to be ill longer than 7 days after illness onset should be considered potentially contagious until symptoms have resolved. Children, especially younger children, might potentially be contagious for longer periods. The duration of infectiousness might vary by swine influenza A (H1N1) virus strain. Non-hospitalized ill persons who are a confirmed or suspected case of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection are recommended to stay at home (voluntary isolation) for at least the first 7 days after illness onset except to seek medical care.

Phase five, one step short of a full pandemic, is characterised as a "strong signal that a pandemic is imminent and that the time to finalise ... the planned mitigation measures is short", the WHO global emergency planning says.

Almost 130 Australians, including 51 people from New South Wales, are still under a swine flu cloud but none are considered "probable" cases.

Preventative measures to prevent infection

The most important function is to thoroughly wash your hands as often as is practical especially after any form of contact with a object or person likely to have been infected. Since air droplets may contain virus particles it is strongly recommended to wear a approved face mask when in contact with other persons at any public gathering or at home if any inhabitants are unwell or showing any signs of having the flu.

wash hands often

get plenty of sleep

eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetable

keep a good stock of foods

keep active

reduce stress

cover your mouth with a tissue when sneezing or coughing

avoid touching your eyes nose or mouth

if you feel unwell don’t leave the house unless to seek medical attention

Origins of swine flu

The 2009 swine flu is a descendant of the Spanish flu which caused a pandemic in 1919 till 1919.

 This pandemic killed 20 - 40 million people world wide and calculated as the greatest number ever killed by any natural disaster or war in such a short time period.

Case definitions

A confirmed case of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection is defined as a person with an acute respiratory illness with laboratory confirmed swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection at CDC by one or more of the following tests:

• real-time RT-PCR
• viral culture
• four-fold rise in swine influenza A (H1N1) virus-specific neutralizing antibodies