SWINE INFLUENZASWINE INFLUENZA

What is Swine Influenza?What is Swine Influenza?

Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza virus that by type A influenza virus that regularly causes outbreaks of regularly causes outbreaks of influenza in pigs. Swine flu viruses influenza in pigs. Swine flu viruses cause high levels of illness and low cause high levels of illness and low death rates in pigs. Swine influenza death rates in pigs. Swine influenza viruses may circulate among swine viruses may circulate among swine throughout the year, but most throughout the year, but most outbreaks occur during the late fall outbreaks occur during the late fall and winter months similar to and winter months similar to outbreaks in humans. The classical outbreaks in humans. The classical swine flu virus (an influenza type A swine flu virus (an influenza type A H1N1 virus) was first isolated from H1N1 virus) was first isolated from a pig in 1930.a pig in 1930.

Is the H1N1 swine flu virus the same as Is the H1N1 swine flu virus the same as human H1N1 viruses?human H1N1 viruses?

The H1N1 swine flu viruses are antigenically The H1N1 swine flu viruses are antigenically very different from human H1N1 viruses and very different from human H1N1 viruses and therefore, vaccines for human seasonal flu therefore, vaccines for human seasonal flu would not provide protection against H1N1 would not provide protection against H1N1 swine flu viruses. swine flu viruses.

The symptoms of swine flu The symptoms of swine flu

in people are as follows:in people are as follows:

1.1. Fever/ChillsFever/Chills2.2. CoughCough3.3. Sore ThroatSore Throat4.4. Body Aches/HeadacheBody Aches/Headache5.5. FatigueFatigue6.6. Vomiting/DiarrheaVomiting/Diarrhea7.7. Pneumonia/Respiratory Pneumonia/Respiratory

Failure Failure Like seasonal flu, swine flu Like seasonal flu, swine flu

may cause a worsening of may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical underlying chronic medical conditions.conditions.

What are the signs and symptoms of swine flu ?What are the signs and symptoms of swine flu ?

In children emergency warning signs that need urgent In children emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:medical attention include:

Fast breathing or trouble breathing Fast breathing or trouble breathing Bluish skin color Bluish skin color Not drinking enough fluids Not drinking enough fluids Not waking up or not interacting Not waking up or not interacting Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and

worse cough worse cough Fever with a rash Fever with a rash

How does swine flu spread?How does swine flu spread?

Spread of this swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is Spread of this swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is thought to be happening in the same way that thought to be happening in the same way that seasonal flu spreads. Flu viruses are spread seasonal flu spreads. Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person through coughing mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing of people with influenza. Sometimes or sneezing of people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.touching their mouth or nose.

Is it safe to eat pork and pork Is it safe to eat pork and pork products?products?

Swine influenza has not been shown to be Swine influenza has not been shown to be transmissible to people through eating transmissible to people through eating properly handled and cooked pork or other properly handled and cooked pork or other products derived from pigs. The swine products derived from pigs. The swine influenza virus is killed by cooking influenza virus is killed by cooking temperature of 160 deg F (70 deg C).temperature of 160 deg F (70 deg C).

How can someone with the flu infect someone How can someone with the flu infect someone else?else?

Infected people may be able to infect others Infected people may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 7 or more days after becoming sick. That to 7 or more days after becoming sick. That means that you may be able to pass on the flu to means that you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.well as while you are sick.

How can human infections with swine How can human infections with swine influenza be diagnosed?influenza be diagnosed?

To diagnose swine influenza A infection, a To diagnose swine influenza A infection, a respiratory specimen would generally need to be respiratory specimen would generally need to be collected within the first 4 to 5 days of illness collected within the first 4 to 5 days of illness (when an infected person is most likely to be (when an infected person is most likely to be shedding virus). However, some persons, shedding virus). However, some persons, especially children, may shed virus for 10 days especially children, may shed virus for 10 days or longer. Identification as a swine flu influenza or longer. Identification as a swine flu influenza A virus requires sending the specimen to A virus requires sending the specimen to equipped laboratories for testing (Research equipped laboratories for testing (Research Institute for Tropical Medicine - RITM – in Institute for Tropical Medicine - RITM – in Alabang, Muntinlupa).Alabang, Muntinlupa).

Are there medicines to treat swine flu?Are there medicines to treat swine flu?

Yes. CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Yes. CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) recommends the use of oseltamivir Prevention) recommends the use of oseltamivir (TAMIFLU) or zanamivir for the treatment and/or (TAMIFLU) or zanamivir for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with these swine influenza prevention of infection with these swine influenza viruses. Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines viruses. Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines that fight against the flu by keeping flu viruses that fight against the flu by keeping flu viruses from reproducing in your body. If you get sick, from reproducing in your body. If you get sick, antiviral drugs can make your illness milder and antiviral drugs can make your illness milder and make you feel better faster. They may also make you feel better faster. They may also prevent serious complications. For treatment, prevent serious complications. For treatment, antiviral drugs work best if started soon after antiviral drugs work best if started soon after getting sick (within 2 days of symptoms).getting sick (within 2 days of symptoms).

What can I do to protect myself from getting What can I do to protect myself from getting sick?sick?

There is no vaccine available right now to There is no vaccine available right now to protect against swine flu. Take these everyday protect against swine flu. Take these everyday steps to protect your health:steps to protect your health:

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. trash after you use it.

Wash your hands thoroughly, often with soap Wash your hands thoroughly, often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Try to avoid close contact with sick people. Try to avoid close contact with sick people. If you get sick with influenza, you can stay home If you get sick with influenza, you can stay home

from work or school and limit contact with others from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them. to keep from infecting them.

What should I do if I get sick?What should I do if I get sick?

If you live in areas where swine influenza If you live in areas where swine influenza cases have been identified and become ill with cases have been identified and become ill with influenza-like symptoms, including fever, body influenza-like symptoms, including fever, body aches, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, or aches, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, you may want to contact vomiting or diarrhea, you may want to contact your health care provider. Your health care your health care provider. Your health care provider will determine whether influenza provider will determine whether influenza testing or treatment is needed.testing or treatment is needed.

If you become ill and experience any of the If you become ill and experience any of the following warning signs, seek emergency following warning signs, seek emergency medical care. medical care.

In case of travel:In case of travel: For DomesticFor Domestic: exercise personal hygienic : exercise personal hygienic

measures and comply with airport/port measures and comply with airport/port quarantine regulations. quarantine regulations.

For InternationalFor International: In case of travel to : In case of travel to affected areas (i.e. Mexico, USA such as affected areas (i.e. Mexico, USA such as California, Kansas, Ohio and New York, California, Kansas, Ohio and New York, Canada such as Nova Scotia and British Canada such as Nova Scotia and British Columbia) person needs to exercise Columbia) person needs to exercise extreme caution if travel cannot be extreme caution if travel cannot be avoided.avoided.