The 2009 flu outbreak in humans that is widely known as “swine flu” apparently is not solely due to a swine influenza virus. It is due to a new strain of influenza A virus subtype H1N1 that derives from one strain of human influenza virus, one strain of avian influenza virus, and two separate strains of swine influenza virus. 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 medical attention and without the use of antiviral medicines.
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 World Health Organization has stated that Swine flu symptoms may even be less severe than any seasonal flu symptoms.
No I’m not paranoid about swine flu I’m just curious as of how they tell rather it’s regular flu or swine flu. I hear they treat you with a vaccine but how long does a person wait to be vaccinated? Do all hospitals have the vaccine or do only hospitals in big cities? If they do do lab testing to figure out rather it’s regular flu or swine flu how long does that person wait to get vaccinated and do they stay at the hospital until they find out?
Three employees have already been diagnosed.
what is so different about the swine flu that we are hearing about how many deaths it has cause. why doesn’t the seasonal flu do this? and i got a seasonal flu shot, but i have been told by 3 different doctors that it is medically UNNECESSARY to get the h1n1 vaccine as well. and i’ve been told the h1n1 vaccine in the form of a nasal spray contains the live virus, so i absolutely WILL NOT get that. what age groups is h1n1 fatal to? i’d really like as many details on this as i can…. i know several people that have already had it… i hope i am not next. i just wish to have all the info i can on this epidemic…. the more educated i am, the better. although we are all very much entitled to our own opinions, i ask that you PLEASE DO NOT RESPOND to this with just an opinion. i am looking for medical advice and facts. thank you.
Ok… so I’m really paranoid about getting the swine flu because my brother and my mom both have it. I was sick over the weekend but not with the flu (a sort of tired out/headache/chill combo) and am better. Now, however, I have an irritation in my throat and cough once in a while. I know both my brother and mom had a cough at the beginning too but I am wondering if there is any way it is not swine.
We are leaving for Disneyland this Saturday (May 2nd) and returning the following Saturday (May 9th) my husband myself and our two children who are 7yo and 4yo are going. I’m really nervous but everything is scheduled and booked. Also, is it okay if we eat in restaurants down there. It just seems like this thing is spreading more more everyday. Please help!!!!!!!!!!
Do you know where I can find statistics on how many people die from regular flu so I can compare it to how many die with swine flu. What are the dangers of both and how are the different from eachother. This is all for an argument I’m having with someone that thinks swine flu is extremely worse than regular flu. I think the media over played it. Thanks for any answers.
Notwithstanding the shortage of vaccine, the fact that it will not be ready until mid October, and the every increasing number of cases of H1N1 being reported in schools, the Obama Administation is urging all schools to remain open no matter what and to establish quarantine areas within schools. Why are they doing this when they know that in past servere flu epidemics health officials have advocated closing schools for a few days or a week in order to halt the spread of the flu?
I babysit a 1 year old that this morning was confirmed to have the swine flu. I was wondering if anyone knows when I can expect to become infected? How long from exposure to onset?
I find absolutely no difference. My dad got a sheet from the doctor with the flu symptoms and the swine flu symptoms and they were the exact same things.
So I’m wondering, what exactly is the difference? 
Swine flu doesn’t have anything to do with pigs, actually. That’s one of the reasons the name was changed to H1N1.
