H1N1 Is A Strain Of The Influenza Virus, Known As Swine Flu
Do you know how does Influenza spread? - What is Swine Flu? What is a Pandemic and where will it happen? - How do you protect yourself and family members from disses - Knowing and measuring the symptoms of Influenza - How taking a temperature by oral, armpit, ear methods - Treating Influenza symptoms the right way and in time- Do your family preparation by education, planning, supplies.
Swine flu, also known as H1N1 is a strain of the influenza virus that usually infects pigs. Transmission of swine influenza virus from pigs to humans is not common and eating properly cooked pork poses no risk of infection. When transmitted from the pig to a human, the virus does not always cause influenza, often the only sign of infection is the presence of antibodies in the blood, detectable only by laboratory tests.
The 2009 swine flu outbreak in humans, is due to a new strain of influenza A, subtype H1N1 that contained genes most closely related to swine influenza. The origin of this new strain is unknown and can be transmitted from human to human. People who have contacted swine flu have experienced normal symptoms of influenza for the most part.
The symptoms in humans of swine flu virus are almost the same to those of influenza and of influenza like illness in general. Symptoms include high temperature, coughing, sore throat, body pain, headache, chills and laziness. During the 2009 outbreak there is showing an increased percentage of patients reporting diarrhea and vomiting.
Influenza, or the “flu,” is a common respiratory illness which causes outbreaks every year usually between November and March in the Northern Hemisphere, and from May to September in the Southern Hemisphere. Unlike some illnesses such as the Chicken Pox which once you have become ill, you are immune. The Influenza virus changes a little every year, so the protection, or immunity, our bodies have built up against previous viruses is not as effective.
Many kinds of colds and other viruses may cause similar symptoms, however the influenza weakens a person more than other viruses. It is known that approximately 20 per cent of humans infected will not have any symptoms, with others, symptoms can be mild to severe. However, if infected, very young children, people with some chronic medical illness and the elderly are more likely than healthy older children or adults to get very sick, and may need to be sent to hospital.
Influenza kills hundreds of thousands of people worldwide annually, and millions in years of a pandemic, with people over 65 years being at the greatest risk of dying from the flu.