What is the Swine Flu Epidemic, and How Can We Protect Ourselves?

What is the swine flu, and where did it come from? How can we protect ourselves? The swine flu epidemic of 2009 has been on the minds of many people according to search statistics. It is being called the Subtype A H1N1 virus by virologists at the CDC and WHO. It is a new strain of the Influenza A virus.

Swine flu in pigs and livestock is caused by a virus called the orthomyxovirus. This strain of the virus only affected pigs and was not common to be passed on to humans. It mostly affected livestock only. Occasionally people who worked with pigs on farms were exposed to the virus and only developed mild flu symptoms and was not contagious to anyone else. It was not passed from human to human. But since then we have had other strains of this first virus that have evolved into subtype virus. The Asian Flu, Spanish Flu, and Hong Kong Flu are all versions of the H1N1 Virus Influenza A.

It is being called the Subtype A H1N1 virus by virologists at the CDC and WHO. It is a new strain of the Influenza A virus.

The first cases were discovered in Mexico and the U.S. So far the estimates are 7,520 confirmed cases (WHO) and at least 65 suspected fatalities. Mexico reports 2,895 cases and U.S totals are 4,714 and some other countries have much smaller totals, Canada 449, Spain 103, and 85 in the U.K.

The Annual Flu season affects 5-15% of the global population. This is the Influenza A virus and results in severe illness in 3-5 million patients and causing 250,000-500,000 deaths worldwide. These deaths are usually occur in high risk cases of infants, elderly patients and the chronically ill. The vaccine helps prevent some people from becoming infected with the flu. Normally the elderly are encouraged to get their flu shots because even if they do get the flu it is usually a mild case due to the anti-bodies of the vaccine.

The first documented case of swine flu was in 1918. This was the original H1N1 Virus. This latest outbreak shows signs of the same type of virus that caused the bird flu and the original swine flu. These are listed as H1N1, H2N2, H3N2, etc.

There is no evidence of where this strain actually originated from.The first cases of the new strain were diagnosed by the CDC in San Diego, CA both were children and neither one had been in contact with pigs. The first cases discovered in Mexico was a surge in flu symptoms being reported. The Mexican news media suspects that the flu may have started in February near a Smithfield's Foods Pig Plant although no pigs in Mexico have tested positive for the virus.

So who is at risk:

* Pregnant women
* Young children, especially those under 12 months of age
* People with heart disease or risk factors for heart disease
* People with HIV infection
* People with chronic diseases
* People taking immune suppressing drugs, such as cancer chemotherapy or anti-rejection drugs for transplants
Any people in this group who experience any flu symptoms should seek medical attention right away.

If you think you may have the swine flu or flu symptoms, seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Currently there is no vaccine for the swine flu, but The CDC and WHO are taking steps to begin making one.
The typical flu shots that everybody got last year will protect against the human flu but not the swine flu.

How can I prevent flu infection: Hand Washing is number 1

Wash hands regularly with soap and water, especially after sneezing and coughing, and before cooking and eating. Can also use a Hand Sanitizer.
Take the same precautions as you would any other illness.
Avoid close contact with sick people
If you feel sick, stay home
Stay informed with local and government news.

There is no evidence of contracting the swine flu from eating pork, but some companies are restricting using pork as there is no indication how this flu infects humans when not in contact with pigs.