SWINE FLU STATES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) May 3, 2009 -- Swine influenza - Swine Flu - Know The Facts
Swine influenza also known as swine flu, hog flu,and pig flu refers to influenza caused by any strain of the influenza virus endemic in pigs (swine). Strains endemic in swine are called swine influenza virus (SIV).

Of the three genera of human flu, two are endemic also in swine, types are : Influenzavirus A is common and Influenzavirus C is rare. Influenzavirus B has not been reported in swine. Within Influenzavirus A and Influenzavirus C, the strains endemic to swine and humans are largely distinct.

Swine flu is common in swine in the midwestern United States (and occasionally in other states), Mexico, Canada, South America, Europe (including the United Kingdom, Sweden, and Italy), Kenya, China, Japan, Taiwan, and other parts of eastern Asia.

Swine flu is rare in humans. People who work with swine, especially people with intense exposures, are at risk of catching swine influenza if the swine carry a strain able to infect humans. However, these strains infrequently circulate between humans as SIV rarely mutates into a form able to pass easily from human to human. In humans, the symptoms of swine flu are similar to those of influenza and of influenza-like illness in general, namely chills, fever, sore throat, muscle pains, severe headache, coughing, weakness and general discomfort.

The 2009 flu outbreak in humans that is widely known as "swine flu" technically is not swine flu. It is due to a new strain of influenza A virus subtype H1N1 that derives from one strain of human influenza, one strain of avian influenza, and two separate strains of swine influenza. The origins of this new strain are unknown, and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) reports that this strain has not been isolated in swine. It passes with apparent ease from human to human, an ability attributed to an as-yet unidentified mutation. The strain in most cases causes only mild symptoms and the infected person makes a full recovery without requiring any medical attention, reduced chance of a full blown infection can be reduced or avoided with a healthy immune system.



Precautions
• Avoid contact with other people as much as possible
• Cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, using a tissue when possible
• Dispose of dirty tissues promptly and carefully
• Hands must be cleaned thouroughly to reduce the spread of the virus from your hands
to your face or to other people
• Clean hard surfaces, such as door handles or telephones, regularly using a normal cleaning product


Make sure your children follow the same advice.

Swine Flu Symptoms
The symptoms of swine flu are broadly the same as those of ordinary flu, but may be more severe and cause more serious complications.

The typical symptoms are:

sudden fever, and
sudden cough.
Other symptoms may include:

headache,
tiredness,
chills,
aching muscles,
limb or joint pain,
diarrhoea or stomach upset,
sore throat,
runny nose,
sneezing, and
loss of appetite.

If the flu becomes pandemic, potentially, everyone is at risk because few people, if any at all, will have immunity (resistance) to it.

If you have any of these symptoms but a flu pandemic has not been announced, you could have seasonal flu.



Swine Flu Travel


Travelling to an affected area
If you are looking for advice on how swine flu might affect your travel plans, you should consult the FCO travel advice for the country concerned. If you are travelling to an affected country you should:

consult your usual healthcare provider for travel medical advice and further guidance if you have specific concerns

check the FCO travel advice for the relevant country before travelling





Swine Flu Pandemic


The UN's World Health Organization has raised the alert over swine flu to level five - indicating human-to-human transmission in at least two countries.

It is a "strong signal that a pandemic is imminent", the WHO says.

In Mexico, at the epicentre of the outbreak, people have been urged to stay at home over the next five days.

There are numerous cases elsewhere - the highest number outside Mexico is the US - and Europeans have been told it is certain there will be deaths.


WHO PANDEMIC ALERT PHASES

Phase 1: No infections in humans are being caused by viruses circulating in animals.

Phase 2: Animal flu virus causes infection in humans, and is a potential pandemic threat.

Phase 3: Flu causes sporadic cases in people, but no significant human-to-human transmission.

Phase 4: Human-to-human transmission and community-level outbreaks.

Phase 5: Human-to-human transmission in at least two countries. Strong signal pandemic imminent.

Phase 6: Virus spreads to another country in a different region. Global pandemic under way.

Post-peak: Pandemic activity appears to be decreasing though second wave possible.
Post-pandemic: activity returns to normal, seasonal flu levels.
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Several countries have restricted travel to Mexico and many tour operators have cancelled holidays.

Other countries are resisting calls to implement travel bans or close borders, on the grounds - backed by the WHO - that there is little evidence of their efficacy.

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