KEY swine influenza (swine flu)

Swine influenza (swine flu)

What is the swine flu? Swine influenza is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza, which causes frequent outbreaks of influenza among animals. Although in general, the swine influenza viruses do not infect humans, there are sometimes cases of infections in humans. The human cases occur more frequently in people who are in direct contact with pigs.

How is the swine flu? The influenza virus can be transmitted directly from pigs to people and people to pigs. Infections in human influenza viruses from pigs are more likely to appear in people who are in close contact with infected pigs, including those working on pig farms and participating in trade fairs exhibition of farm animals . The transmission of swine influenza among humans is believed to be transmitted in the same way as seasonal influenza, mainly from person to person when a person with influenza coughs or sneezes. Sometimes, people can become infected by touching something with influenza virus and then put their hands in their mouth or nose.

What are the symptoms of swine flu? The symptoms of swine influenza in people are similar to those of the common seasonal influenza, and these include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and cough. Some people with swine influenza have also reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

How are diagnosed swine influenza infections in humans? To diagnose an infection of swine influenza type A, you must collect a sample of the respiratory system among the first 4 to 5 days of infection (when an infected person is most likely to be passing the virus). However, some people, especially children, can spread the virus for 10 days or more. For identification and confirmation of the virus of swine influenza type A is necessary to send the sample to the CDC for laboratory test.

Are there drugs to treat people infected with swine influenza? Yes, the CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir and zanamivir for the treatment or prevention of infection by the virus of swine influenza.
Swine influenza (swine flu)


Does the current vaccine protects against influenza type H1N1 swine influenza? The seasonal flu vaccine protects people against three strains of influenza viruses: a virus A (H3N2), virus A (H1N1) virus and one B. It is unlikely that the seasonal influenza vaccine provides protection against the H1N1 virus of swine influenza.

The swine influenza virus H1N1 is equal to the H1N1 influenza virus in humans? No. The H1N1 virus of swine influenza is very different from the H1N1 virus of H1N1 human and avian influenza. The antibodies of the H1N1 virus of avian influenza, swine and human provide little protection, if at all, against the H1N1 virus from each of the other species.

How often do people get infected with swine influenza type H1N1? Although in general, the swine influenza viruses do not infect humans, there have been sporadic cases of infections in humans. In the United States in the past, the CDC received reports of one case of infection with swine influenza virus in humans each or approximately two years, but since December 2005 have been reported 14 cases of infections of swine influenza in humans.

With prior cases have arisen in the contagion of swine influenza virus from person to person? Yes, There have been some documented cases of people who have infected the swine influenza virus to others. For example, in Wisconsin in 1988, an alleged outbreak of swine influenza infections in pigs, caused multiple infections in humans and although there was no outbreak in the community, we identified antibodies that found the virus is transmitted from one patient to staff medical care. (D Wells, JAMA 1991).

What is being done to detect other infections in people with the virus of the H1N1 swine influenza once it has detected a case? Epidemiological investigations are conducted to detect other cases of swine influenza infection in humans, including the tracing of contacts that patients had both. It also increases the implementation of surveillance for detecting infections of swine influenza virus in people.

For more information, visit http://www.cdc.gov/flu/swine/, or call CDC at 800-CDC-INFO (English and Spanish) or 888-232-6348 (TTY).