It`s been called pig flu, novel influenza, North American influenza and the Mexican virus, but the world now knows it simply as swine flu - the most widespread and highly-publicised health scares to strike the world in years.
The swine flu pandemic has given rise to all sorts of myths and misconceptions. On the one hand,
many believe it is no different from a normal bout of flu, and merits little concern; on the other, some have worried that it will be as devastating as the influenza pandemics of 1918-19, which claimed almost as many lives as the world war which preceded it.
The reality lies somewhere between these two extremes. Swine flu is a genuine threat (it has claimed almost 8,000 lives worldwide), but it causes only mild problems in the majority of people it infects, and the risk of infection is limited provided you take proper precautions. This article aims to help you understand the origins and symptoms of swine flu, giving you all the information you need for complete peace of mind.
Where has it come from?
The current swine flu pandemic is not the first global outbreak of swine influenza - in fact there was a major outbreak as long ago as 1918, when pigs suffered almost as much as humans during the post-war health crisis. However the 2009 pandemic is a new strain, and is in fact a hybrid of five different flu viruses: North American avian influenza, human influenza, North American swine influenza and two swine influenza viruses typically found in Europe and Asia. The strain has both Eurasian and North American genes, suggesting it evolved through international travel and contact between sufferers of different viruses.
The outbreak is believed to have begun on factory farms in Veracruz, Mexico, although there is evidence that it first arose among Asian pigs before being transported to America in a human host. When the virus first came to prominence in March this year, the Mexicans tried desperately to keep a lid on it; however there was little they could do to counter the reality of daily global travel and constant cross-border migration, and the virus spread rapidly. In June, less than three months after the Mexicans noticed the virus, the World Health Organisaton declared swine flu a pandemic.
Thankfully, it now seems that swine flu virus activity may have peaked in the US and some European countries - however other countries are still reporting sharp increases, so we`re definitely not out of the woods.
What are the Symptoms
Even if you have the virus, there is a strong likelihood you will experience only mild symptoms; these include fever, sore throat, coughing, vomiting nausea or diarrhea. In the majority of cases, the virus will have passed within six days.
However, if you are currently pregnant, or suffer from asthma, diabetes, obesity, heart disease, pneumonia or neurodevelopmental conditions, your susceptibility increases sharply. Swine flu can cause severe health problems for people in these health brackets, so, if you do fall into one of these categories, it`s best to take proactive measures.
What do I do if I have it?
If you are showing mild symptoms, such as coughing, sore throat or diarrhea, there`s little you can do but shut your doors, close your windows and sit it out at home. It`s not as severe as the plagues of the seventeenth century, where the authorities barricaded the infected inside their homes and daubed red crosses on their doors; but you will have a better chance of stopping the spread of your symptoms if you stay away from crowded places such as gyms, shopping malls, bars, clubs and restaurants. And you`ve got an excuse to get out of school or work - every cloud has a silver lining!
If you are starting to feel more severe symptoms, or if you more vulnerable to the virus for the reasons given above, it is recommended that you seek out a course of anti-virals and antibiotics straight away; oseltamivir or zanamivir are highly recommended.
How do I stop it spreading to me?
There is no protection against seasonal flu by existing vaccines. A recent study made by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that children had no preexisting immunity to the new strain however adults had some degree of immunity, particularly those over 60.
However a number of vaccines are available for swine flu: these include Pandemrix, ACAM-FLU-A, Fluzone, Influvac, Live attenuated (FluMist) and Optaflu. Consult your doctor or pharmacist to source the best available solution.
