Swine Flu
May it be the newspapers or the news channels, every other place is flashing the numbers of swine flu cases in their countries. Every country today is looking forward to ways through which they can diminish the possibilities of having cases of swine flu. Right from the passengers to that of the crew members, every single person coming from foreign countries is checked thoroughly before being allowed to enter the city for the infection. But, how many of us actually are well informed about the flu and its prevention? Well, certainly not many of us are quite informed about this infection. But here is all the information that you have been wanting about the virus and its infection.
What is Swine Flu?
Swine influenza is the root of the so called Swine flu infection. Swine influenza is basically a disease commonly found in pigs. The viruses of the influenza are now getting transmitted to normal humans and this infection is named as Swine flu.
Generally, swine influenza is commonly seen in pigs across the world and is known not to affect humans. However, it can still get affected to those who are in very close contact with pigs. The origin of the swine flu infection is still under investigation and thus there is no such evidence which points out to the fact that the infectious strain is being circulated in UK.
However, swine influenza viruses are mainly H1N1 subtypes and the swine flu that is known to spread amongst humans is a mutated version of this very virus.
Symptoms of swine flu:
The symptoms are very much the same as that of simple flu. However, the only difference remains that the symptoms can be a bit more severe and cause, certain serious complications as compared to the simple flu.
General symptoms:
- Sudden cough
- Sudden fever
Other symptoms:
- Chills
- Headache
- Tiredness
- Muscle and severe joint and limb pain in the body
- Sore throat
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Sneezing
- Runny nose
- Drastic loss of appetite
These are all the basic symptoms of the flu which are similar to seasonal flu’s.
Who are more susceptible to getting affected?
With the recent experiences of the disease, it has been seen that the people suffering from underlying chronic conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, asthma, diabetes, obesity and autoimmune disorders have experienced severe conditions with the infection.
Is it contagious?
Swine flu is very much similar to that of the simple flu. The Health Protection Agency (HPA) based on the studies has stated that this new mutated virus is extremely contagious and thus can spread from one person to the other very easily.
Just as the cold flu, even swine flu spreads similarly. It spreads to the others through the virus which exist in the droplets of the nose or the mouth that come out when an infected person sneezes or coughs openly. It is known by very few people that when a person sneezes or coughs without covering, the droplets can spread to about one meter (3 ft.). These viruses are then breathed in by others unknowingly.
Similarly, if someone happens to sneeze or cough in the hands and doesn’t wash the hands properly, then the viruses easily get transferred to the others through the things that the infected person touches. For instance, the door handles, telephones, computer keyboards, etc. can also act as the source carrying the virus.
To learn more about the diagnosis and the treatment of Swine flu, keep reading.