Swineflu

Swine influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses that causes regular outbreaks in pigs. People do not normally get swine flu, but human infections can and do happen. Swine flu viruses have been reported to spread from person to person, but in the past this transmission was limited and not sustained beyond three people.

Also called as H1N1 virus, Swine Flu can be a deadly disease. This strain of the flu, which is a combination of flu viruses from pigs, birds, and humans, seems to hit younger and healthier people. Symptoms may include fever, body aches, runny nose, sore throat or cough; some patients may also have nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. Like seasonal flu, swine flu in humans can vary in severity from mild to severe.

HealthHygiene is seen as a primary personal defense. Some precautions are avoiding others who are sick, covering your face when you sneeze or cough and washing your hands. Buy hand-washing products,hand sanitizers and wipes, face masks and anti-viral medications on order, Tamiflu and Relenza, oseltamivir or zanamivir. Tamiflu is designed to treat the illness rather than prevent it. Common pollen or surgical masks offer little protection to the virus. Keep your hands out of your mouth and wash your paws. Monitor Web sites of groups such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization and the American Bankers Association. Sick
residents should stay home. The seasonal flu shot that thousands have is not believed to protect individuals from swine flu. However, the anti-viral medications on order, Tamiflu and Relenza, do appear to impact symptoms of the swine flu virus.

Though swine flu and seasonal flu symptoms are similar, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has seen more severe diarrhea or vomiting, or both, in some cases of swine flu.

Many individuals with the virus have not had contact with swine. However, take the help of state and private veterinarians to assess and monitor hogs health.Since pigs can catch the flu from humans, producers are being urged to keep ill employees away from animals. However, the flu is not transmitted by food, and hence you can safely eat pork. Cooking pork to an internal temperature of 160 degrees F kills viruses and food-borne pathogens. Ensure patient wearing a mask if he or she has respiratory illnesses or symptoms, including coughing. Stay away from people who have traveled to Mexico, Southern California or Texas, or have had contact with people in those places.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have created a Web site with more information on the swine flu at www.cdc.gov/swineflu.

If you become ill and experience any of the following warning signs, seek emergency medical care.

In children emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

•Fast breathing or trouble breathing
•Bluish skin color
•Not drinking enough fluids
•Not waking up or not interacting
•Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
•Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
•Fever with a rash

In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

•Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
•Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
•Sudden dizziness
•Confusion
•Severe or persistent vomiting.