What is Swine Flu

Swine flu is an infection caused by a virus. It's named for a virus that can affect pigs. People usually
do not get swine flu, but human infections can and do happen. The virus is contagious and can spread
from human to human. Symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular
human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue.

Swine flu also known as swine influenza, hog flu and pig flu. In 2009 the media labeled as "swine flu"
the flu caused by 2009's new strain of swine-origin A/H1N1 pandemic virus just as it had earlier
dubbed as "avian flu" flu caused by the recent Asian-linage HPAI (High Pathogenic Avian Influenza)
H5N1 strain that is still endemic in many wild bird species in several countries.

Swine flu is a new influenza virus causing illness in people. This new virus was first detected in people
in the United States in April 2009. Other countries, including Mexico and Canada, have reported
people sick with this new virus. This virus is spreading from person-to-person, probably in much the
same way that regular seasonal influenza viruses spread.

Although symptoms have generally proved mild, a small number of patients will develop more serious
illness. Many of these people have other underlying health conditions, such as heart or lung disease,
that put them at increased risk.

On June 11, 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) signaled that a global pandemic of novel
influenza A (H1N1) was underway by raising the worldwide pandemic alert level to Phase 6. This
action was a reflection of the spread of the new H1N1 virus, not the severity of illness caused by the
virus. At the time, more than 70 countries had reported cases of novel influenza A (H1N1) infection
and there were ongoing community level outbreaks of novel H1N1 in multiple parts of the world.
 Swine Flu Symptoms
Usually symptoms of swine flu have generally proved mild. However a small number of patients may
develop more serious illness. Many of these people have other underlying health conditions, such as
heart or lung disease, that put them at increased risk.

Flu symptoms can include:

Fever

Cough

Headache

Weakness and fatigue

Aching muscles and joints

Sore throat

Runny nose

As with any sort of influenza, how bad and how long the symptoms last will depend on treatment and
the patient's individual circumstances.

Most cases reported in India have been relatively mild, with those affected starting to recover within a
week. Persons with swine flu infection should be considered potentially contagious for up to 7 days
following illness onset. Persons who continue to be ill longer than 7 days after illness onset should be
considered potentially contagious until symptoms have resolved. Children, especially younger children,
might potentially be contagious for longer periods.

A confirmed case of swine flu infection is a person with an acute respiratory illness with laboratory
confirmed swine flu infection by one or more of the following tests:

Real-time RT-PCR

Viral culture
 Prevention and Precautions for Swine Flu

Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person through droplets created while coughing or
sneezing by a person infected with swine flu. Infected person may be able to infect others beginning
one day before symptoms develop and up to seven or more days after becoming sick.

Stay away from people who display signs of swine flu. DO NOT TOUCH YOUR MOUTH AND
NOSE WITH YOUR HANDS. YOU MAY TOUCH SURFACES ON WHICH A PERSON MAY HAVE
EARLIER SNEEZED OR COUGHED. WASH & SANITIZE YOUR HANDS FREQUENTLY

Information on the effectiveness of facemasks and respirators for decreasing the risk of swine fluis
extremely limited. Thus, it is difficult to assess their potential effectiveness in decreasing the risk of
swine flu (H1N1) virus transmission. In the absence of clear scientific data, the interim
recommendations below have been developed on the basis of public health judgment, the historical
use of facemasks and respirators in other settings for preventing transmission of influenza and other
respiratory viruses.

You can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza by
covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the
trash after you use it.

Washing your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. You can
also use alcohol-based hand cleaners.

Avoiding touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.

Trying to avoid close contact with sick people.

Staying home from work or school if you are sick.

The impact of swine flu is becoming more severe everyday. If you suspect you have caught it, it
recommended that you stay at home to avoid infecting others. The virus typically spreads from coughs
and sneezes or by touching contaminated surfaces and then touching the nose or mouth. Symptoms
are similar to those of seasonal flu, and may include fever, sneezes, sore throat, coughs, headache,
and muscle or joint pains

Because swine flu is a new virus, most people have no natural immunity. People older than age 50
are getting swine flu at far lower rates than younger people, which may be an evidence older people
may have some immunity from prior exposures to a similar virus.
 How Does Swine Flu Spread?

Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person through droplets created while coughing or
sneezing by a person infected with the influenza-A (H1N1) commonly known as swine flu. Infected
person may be able to infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to seven or
more days after becoming sick.

Follow simple steps as cough etiquette (covering mouth & nose with handkerchief or tissue paper
while coughing), stay at least an arm’s length from persons coughing or sneezing, avoid gathering
and wash your hands frequently. Try to stay in good general health. Get plenty of sleep, be
physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids and eat nutritious food.

How To Protect Yourself from swine flu

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

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

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

Try to avoid close contact with people having respiratory illness.

If one gets sick with influenza, one must stay at home, away from work or school and limit
contact with others to keep from infecting them. However, if one is having any respiratory
distress, one should report to a nearby hospital.
 What should I do if I Identify Swine Flu Symptoms?

People who have traveled from the affected countries in the past ten days and show symptoms of
influenza A (H1N1, swine flu) like fever, cough, sore throat and difficulty in breathing should
immediately contact the telephone number given below or the nearby Government Hospital.

IMPORTANT CONTACT NUMBERS:

Outbreak Monitoring Cell (Control Room, NICD): 011-23921401
Websites: www.mohfw.nic.in and www.nicd.nic.in

Steps being taken by Government of India to prevent outbreak of swine flu in India:

The strategy is basically to detect early cases among the passengers coming from the affected
countries either by air, road or ship.

The Government has launched a massive mass media campaign to inform and educate people
on dos and donts.

Sharing information with public through media.

Two Things in Your Home Can Reduce Swine Flu Infection by 30%

You may be getting concerned at the news of the swine flu virus spreading rapidly throughout
the country. There have been around 280 confirmed cases of swine flu in India as of 17th July.

It is important to understand how swine flu or for that matter any flu spreads. Contrary to the
popular belief, swine flu is not air borne. The two main ways it spreads: first if someone who's
infected sneezes or coughs and you come in contact with the virus in the air. The other is if you
touch an object which may have have the virus and you touch your eyes, mouth or nose.

It's common for people to touch their nose, eyes and mouth. Most of these actions are sub-
conscious like licking your tongue for flipping pages of a book or a magazine. As soon as you
feel an itch you immediately rub or scratch your eyes.

Remember the virus can be anywhere - a door knob, a remote control, phones, computer
keyboards, etc. The idea is not to get paranoid and stop using them. A simple task can protect
you from infection.

Two things in your home - soap and water can reduce the chance of infection by 30%. All you
need to do is keep washing your hand with soap and water frequently. And most importantly,
stop touching your face. Make it a conscious effort to observe and stop. Another side effect of
not touching your face too often - your skin looks better!
 How to Identify Swine Flu?

Swine flu Vs Common Cold

What are the typical symptoms of Swine Flu and how do you differentiate it from the common cold or the regular flu?

The swine flu and the flu look identical to most people. Both have similar symptoms such as

Fever

Headache

Cough

Sore Throat

Body Aches

However in some cases the swine flu may cause more discomfort. Patients could complain of nausea,
vomiting and diarrhoea, which are not typical symptoms of Influenza or Flu. People over 65, children
under age 8 and anyone with a chronic medical condition are more susceptible to the virus.

Reference – www.swineflu-india.org

For further Information visit www.swineflu-india.org

www.pandemicflu.gov