Human swine influenza has been reported in Mexico, Canada and the United States as well as several countries around the world.


Symptoms

Signs of swine flu in pigs can include sudden onset of fever, depression, coughing (barking), discharge from the nose or eyes, sneezing, breathing difficulties, eye redness or inflammation, and going off feed.

In humans, incubation periods of the influenza virus vary from 1 to 4 days, most incubation periods are in the range of 2 to 3 days. Influenza usually starts with the sudden onset of a headache, sore throat and muscle aches.

The onset is often abrupt enough that people can remember precisely when it started. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. Symptoms include:

· Fever ( greater than 100 0F or 37.8 0C)
· Headache
· Extreme tiredness
· Dry cough
· Sore throat
· Runny or stuffy nose
· Muscle aches
· Stomach symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, also can occur but are more common in children than adults.

These symptoms are usually referred to as "flu like symptoms."


Prevention

Influenza spreads between humans through coughing or sneezing and people touching something with the virus on it and then touching their own nose or mouth. Swine flu cannot be spread by pork products, since the virus is not transmitted through food.

The swine flu in humans is most contagious during the first five days of the illness although some people, most commonly children, can remain contagious for up to ten days.

Personal Care & Precautions

·If you or your family exhibit symptoms, visit your doctor, get tested if advised and follow recommended protocol

·Stay informed. Keep yourself updated on the situation from the media, internet and other reliable sources

·Influenza is thought to spread mainly person to person through coughing or sneezing of infected people

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

·When in a crowded setting or when it is essential to have close contact with persons who might be ill, the spend as little time as possible in that setting

·Face masks and respirators may help reduce the risk of getting influenza, but they should be used along with other preventive measures

·Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze.

·Alcohol based hands cleaners are effective.

·Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.

·Stay home if you get sick. It is recommended that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

·Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures.

·Develop a family emergency plan as a precaution. This should include storing a supply of food, medicines, face masks, alcohol based hand rubs and other essential supplies.


Swine Flu Virus

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

Like all influenza viruses, swine flu viruses change constantly. Pigs can be infected by avian influenza and human influenza viruses as well as swine influenza viruses. When influenza viruses from different species infect pigs, the viruses can re‐assort (i.e. swap genes) and new viruses that are a mix of swine, human and/or avian influenza viruses can emerge.

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

At this time, there are four main influenza type ‘A’ virus subtypes that have been isolated in pigs: H1N1, H1N2, H3N2, and H3N1. However, most of the recently isolated influenza viruses from pigs have been H1N1 viruses.