What is Swine Flu?
March 6th, 2010 | 
Author: Swine flu or swine influenza is a disease common in swine, with normal flu-like symptoms, but caused by any strain of the swine influenza virus (SIV – virus endemic in pigs). Though rare in humans, individuals with greater exposure to swine could contract swine influenza if the swine are carrying the particular rare strain of the SIV that is capable of affecting humans. Even then, it is a rare occurrence for the strain to be able to pass from human to human. This could occur if the SIV is able to mutate into a form that can be easily transmitted among humans.
The swine flu outbreak of 2009 is believed to be caused by such a mutated strain of the SIV. The current outbreak is called swine flu only because one of the surface proteins of the tested virus is similar to the one which infects pigs. It is still unknown if this is currently infecting pigs though it’s clearly spreading among people, leading the World Health Organization to raise the Phase 4 pandemic alert. This new strain responsible for the outbreak has been found to be a re-assortment of strains of the influenza A virus subtype H1N1. These strains are separately endemic in humans and in swine.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Tamiflu (oseltamivir) and Relenza (zanamivir) would help in treatment and prevention. Antiviral drugs, if started within two days of the manifestation of symptoms, succeed in reducing the severity of the symptoms, preventing further complications, and hastening cure. The most effective method of prevention is to wash hands frequently with soap or with a foam or alcohol-based gel hand wash that helps wipe away bacteria and viruses. Vaccines against the 2009 H1N1 strain outbreak are in the development stage and are expected to be ready by June 2009.
Question about swine fluSWINE FLU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?
Ok I have the swine flu right now, bleh.
For everyone else that has had it, do you think it was any worse than the regular flu? I have had the regular flu twice and both times it was wayyy worse than the swine flu.
Posted in Healthcare
pigs rule
Influenza A virus strains are categorized according to two proteins found on the surface of the virus: hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N). All influenza A viruses contain hemagglutinin and neuraminidase, but the structures of these proteins differ from strain to strain, due to rapid genetic mutation in the viral genome.
Influenza A virus strains are assigned an H number and an N number based on which forms of these two proteins the strain contains. There are 16 H and 9 N subtypes known in birds, but only H 1, 2 and 3, and N 1 and 2 are commonly found in humans.
Each season, the "seasonal flu" varies because of the mutations in the genes. Seasonal flu, for example, could be H1N2, H2N2, H3N1 and so forth. When you get vaccinated for the seasonal flu, you receive a dead virus with multiple strands. The swine flu is H1N1. That's the only difference, other than the fact that it is more commonly found in pigs, over humans
There is no difference. The flu is the flu. This swine nonsense is just the media's way to once again manipulate people into thinking they need flu shots and dangerous vaccines.
The H1N1 flu is not much worse than the seasonal flu, if not, the same. You are correct, the media did "over-play" it.
bless
There are no particular symptoms that distinguish swine flu from other types of flu. Symtoms like diarrhea and vomiting are also associated with swine flu. Those symptoms can also be caused by many other conditions, and that means that you and your doctor can't know, just based on your symptoms.
There is a similarity between the swine flu epidemic centered in Mexico City and the Spanish influenza epidemic of 1918-19. Infants and elderly were spared. It was the young adults with robust immune systems that were the prime victims and the disease took them literally by storm. What happens with young and healthy patients is that their immune systems react so strongly that they can triggers something known as a "cytokine storm".
In response to every infection, the body has a number of ways to fight back against the invading enemy. Cytokines are part of this defense. The name "cytokine storm" basically describes an over-reaction of a healthy immune system that has over-reacted and is damaging the body, causing failure of multiple organ systems. It can be triggered by many things, including viruses, although it's not common for human influenza A virus strains to cause it. The same thing occurs with new swine flu virus and the body has no defenses built up. When infected the body's own defensive systems are triggered to a powerful extent and cause havoc to the immune system. It’s something like dropping an H-bomb on a suspected burglar in your back yard. The result is to kill, or needlessly harm, the patient
In children the immune responses are still developing, while the elderly immune function tends to be weaker due to the aging process. Both groups have weak immune system that is why they are vulnerable to complications from the regular flu and tend to get pneumonia and other opportunistic infections after being weakened further by the regular flu. Fortunately, they don't have systems that react strongly to the flu itself that can generate the cytokine storm. However, the healthy approximately 15 to 60 year old individual the most likely to actually succumb to the swine flu.
A cytokine storm can overcome the nervous system and cause breathing and internal organs problems, which is why hospitals put critical flu patients on assisted machines. What really frightens experts in the pandemic field is the fact that most hospitals only have a few of these facilities and they are often in use for surgical or other critical patients. There is simply no way to provide interim support for tens of thousands of pandemic flu victims, even in advanced countries with a strong hospital system. The equipment just doesn't exist to put them all on breathing machines until their bodies are able to recover naturally.
can i download this song?
fckin hilarious!!!
what is the backround song called
The name of the flu that people get every flu season is usually referred to as seasonal flu. Every year the viruses that are in the seasonal flu that goes around may differ, but most of those viruses we have been exposed to at some point. Swine flu is a strain of the flu that most of us have never been exposed to before. Because we have not been exposed to it before our bodies don't have any immunity to it.
Also, there is some concern that the swine flu strain may mutate and become more deadly than it is. Right now most people that catch the swine flu are mildly sick. It is very contagious so what is most important is that you stay away from other people if you get sick. Over 2,000 university kids at just one school got sick in the first week of school. We could have a lot of sick people during flu season. Every year people die from the flu. More people die each year from the regular seasonal flu than have been dying from the swine flu. But for people with underlying health issues, swine flu has been difficult even in its current mild form.
I've attached two articles. One tells you how to recognize swine flu symptoms and the other tells you what to do if you get sick.
frickn hilarious!
All types of flu can cause:
• Fever
• Coughing and/or sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Headaches and/or body aches •
• Chills
• Fatigue
H1N1 Flu Symptoms
H1N1 causes symptoms similar to seasonal flu and can include:
• *Fever
• Coughing and/or sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Headaches and/or body aches
• Chills
• Fatigue
In addition to the above symptoms, a number of H1N1 flu cases reported:
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
(*) Not everyone with flu will have a fever.
People infected with H1N1 are contagious 1 day before getting sick, and up to 7 days after that. This time period can be even longer in children and people with weakened immune systems.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health cautions anyone with the above symptoms to stay at home (except to get medical care) until at least 24 hours after the fever ends naturally (without the use of fever-reducing medication). Do not attempt to go to school or work. Doing so could spread the virus to those who are otherwise well.
F.B.I. =Fat Bold Inocent
)
LOL funniest song ever
i got my swine flu vaccination today
Hey don't worry its just like the flu its not that bad my boss had it like three weeks ago and he recovered and my bro works at the hospital were they have 8 cases and only one person had to be hospitalized because that person was of old age, I really don't know why there dieing in Mexico maybe it isn't true. most Mexicans in Mexico are ignorant they use stupid Mexican remedies for the flu and i know I'm Mexican American with family down there and they don't know about Tylenol extra strength which lowers the deadly fever of a flu . may I add they do have really good doctors. all i know is im washing my hands cuz i dont want to miss 1 weeks worth of work or school! and if you do get it get rest go to your doctor and keep hydrated its just a flu the good part is that if you do get it you will be immune to bird flu and other crazy flus' worry if old
lol
no, dude the swine flu is real it's already killed approx. 145 people in mexico and is spreading across the world as we speak.
Besides spending money on the health industry wouldn't be a great boost in the economy since the health sector of the USA is one of the few HEALTHY parts of the economy which is still growing even in this recession. Now if the flu somehow made people buy houses and cars out of some weird panic or something now that's when i would start to think the governments behind it haha.
The swine flu can only be contracted through intercourse with a pig.
While the seasonal flu in spread in more traditional manners
@MTAtheband
we didnt start the fire