Swine flu got its name from the fact that this new human virus has lots of genes that resemble those of the flu viruses which habitually attack pigs on the North American continent. The swine flu virus is actually more complicated than that, being a combination of human genes, avian genes and genes specific to the flu virus that affects pigs in Asia and Europe as well. In short, the swine flu virus is a “quadruple reassortant” one.
Normally, common flu makes 36,000 victims in America and about 375,000 all over the globe. The fact is that circa 90% of those who die from flu are more than 65 years old and their death is caused by other underlying health problems which have already weakened their bodies thus being no longer capable to fight. The entire world is concerned about this new swine flu because, in Mexico, it has killed mostly young, healthy people.
Swine flu has the same symptoms like any other kind of influenza. Swine flu can trigger symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea, but these symptoms are common for many other medical conditions, therefore your doctor will not be able to detect a possible swine flu. The most usual symptoms of swine flu or any other kind of flu for that matter are:
- Very high fever (above 100)
- Pain in the joints
- Coughing
- Sore throat and runny nose
- Diarrhea and vomiting
- Lethargy
- Severe headache
- Lack of appetite
The swine flu virus can be caught only from humans, so pigs have actually nothing to do with it. Although the swine flu virus does have, genetically speaking, origins from the flu viruses found in birds and pigs, it has suffered some mutations which allow it to infect humans and to be spread among them. As compared to avian flu, which could affect humans only if they were exposed to birds exceedingly, swine flu can attack humans easily. Human- to-human transmission is not possible in the case of avian flu.
Like any other kind of flu virus, the swine flu one is airborne and can be transmitted by anyone who is infected and gets to sneeze or cough without using a handkerchief, thus allowing the swine flu virus to be spread in the air. Other possibilities of contamination with swine flu would be through saliva or tiny droplets caused by the sneezing of an infected individual. The swine flu germs can be “gathered” straight from the infected individual, from direct touch, or by putting your hand on an object previously used by an infected person and then using your hand to touch your mouth, nose or eyes. The CDC asserts that a person can spread swine flu germs even before the swine flu symptoms appear, and continues to do so for 7 days.
For those who are concerned, it is necessary to state that pigs cannot infect you with swine flu therefore it is absolutely safe to eat pork, as long as the meat is cooked as it should. At 160 degrees, any virus or bacteria dies. So, do not worry, pigs will definitely not infect you with swine flu.
In order to treat different kinds of flu, there are actually four drugs that are used, among which Relenza or zanamivir, Tamiflu or oseltamivir. These two drugs seem to be effective when it comes to swine flu. They are also the ones recommended by the CDC. An antiviral drug actually prevents the swine flu viruses to multiply and keeps complications at bay. If you want them to be efficient, take the drugs within two days since the first symptoms of swine flu. However, these drugs are not necessary for everyone and actually most of those who have been diagnosed with swine flu did not need treatment to recover.
Although World Health Organization as well as the CDC has develop a vaccine against swine flu, right now such a cure does not exist.
