Swine Flu

Swine influenza is a virus which causes respiratory problems in pigs like nasal secretions, decreased appetite etc like human flu. Occasionally, pigs transmit influenza viruses to people, when they are closely associated with pigs mainly to hog farmers and veterinarians, pork processors. Swine influenza, also called pig influenza, swine flu, hog flu and pig flu. During the 1918 flu pandemic Swine influenza was first proposed to be a disease related to human flu. In 1930, Swine influenza virus was first isolated from pigs in the U.S. and has been recognized by pork producers and veterinarians to cause infections in pigs worldwide. It was supposed that the cross-species infection remained to local areas but in 2009 it was found that this cross species situation with influenza viruses had the potential to change. It was first seen in Mexico and was termed as H1N1 (H1-hemagglutinin type 1 and N1 -neuraminidase type1) which is an influenza A virus type.

Symptoms

If a person is suffering from fever (100 F or greater), cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, chills, fatigue, diarrhea, vomiting. In few people it may develop to severe respiratory symptoms and need respiratory support. Patients can get pneumonia (bacterial secondary infection) if the viral infection persists, and some can develop seizures. Death often occurs from secondary bacterial infection of the lungs; appropriate antibiotics need to be used in these patients. The incubation period from exposure to first symptoms is about one to four days, with an average of two days.

Diagnosis

First it is to be determined whether the person is infected with influenza A or B virus. A nasopharyngeal swab is a quick test to determine. If it is tests positive for type A then it can be conventional flu strain or swine flu. A new test which can determine H1N1 in about few hours is developed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), FDA. These rapid tests are based on PCR technology.

Treatment

Antiviral drugs are given to the patients which can control fever, pains and nasal secretions. For the treatment or prevention of infection U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended the use of oseltamivir (Tamiflu) or zanamivir (Relenza)

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