Everything you need to know about swine flu

What is swine flu and how does it spread? Why are people dying of it in Mexico? Find out all you need to know about swine influenza and how to protect yourself from it.

What is it?

Swine influenza, now generally referred to as swine flu, is a respiratory disease that normally only infects pigs. What's different about this virus is that it's a new version of the H1N1 strain of influenza type A. This means it contains genes from pig, bird and human flu viruses.

How do you contract it?

The disease is initially spread by infected pigs. It spreads between humans in the same way as normal flu, through coughs and sneezes and touching the nose or mouth after touching contaminated surfaces, and is highly contagious.

Symptoms

The main symptoms are feverish illness, tiredness, headaches, sore throats and muscle ache. Other symptoms that have been reported include diarrhoea and vomiting. In young children, warning signs can be fast or troubled breathing, a bluish skin tone and irritability. Contact your GP or NHS direct (0854 4647) if you have two or more of the following symptoms:
  ● a fever of 38°c (100°f) or more
  ● a cough
  ● runny nose
  ● headache
  ● limb/joint pain
  ● chills
  ● diarrhoea
  ● vomiting
  ● fatigue

Treatment

The virus can be treated with antiviral drugs Tamiflu (oseltamivir) and Relenza (zanamivir). The drugs should be administrated within two days to be most effective. When treated with these drugs at an early stage, patients should respond well and fully recover. Scientists are currently working on a vaccine to fight the swine flu virus, but it could take up to six months to develop and manufacture.

What should I do if I have been to Mexico and/or have flu-like symptoms?

If you have recently returned from Mexico, the USA or another country affected by swine flu, the Health Protection Agency advises you to monitor your health for seven days. If you develop flu symptoms, stay at home and phone your GP or NHS Direct (0854 4647). You may need tests. Until you have your results, avoid contact with other people and take precautions. Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze using tissues and dispose of them immediately. Wash hands regularly with soap and water. Clean all surfaces such as door handles.

How to protect yourself

Avoid close contact with people who appear unwell and have a fever and cough. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water. Standard surgical masks offer some protection, but the most effective are called N-95 masks, which can keep out small infectious viruses.

Is it safe to eat pig meat?

Yes. The World Health Organisation says there is no evidence that swine flu can be transmitted through eating meat from infected animals.

Why have people died in Mexico?

There are a variety of reasons why so many people have died from the virus in Mexico. It may be that people affected in this country have not sought treatment early enough, or that the virus has probably been circulating for several weeks, yet only showing mild symptoms in the majority of people. General living and nutritional standards may also play a role.

What's the good news?

The H1N1 virus is not as lethal as bird flu (H5N1) which health officials say is a much more dangerous virus because it can mutate rapidly. We are also being reassured that the UK government has prepared itself for a pandemic by stockpiling antiviral drugs and providing 35 million facemasks for NHS staff. So far there are no plans to distribute any to the general population. According to the World Health Organisation, Britain and France are the best-prepared nations for a pandemic.

A pandemic's six levels of threat

Phase 1: A virus circulates among animals but has not infected humans.
Phase 2: An animal flu virus has infected humans and is considered a potential pandemic threat.
Phase 3: A limited human-to-human transmission occurs but is not sufficient to sustain community-level outbreaks.
Phase 4: The human-to-human transmission has increased and is able to cause "community-level outbreaks." Phase 4 indicates a significant increase in risk of a pandemic but does not necessarily mean that a pandemic is a forgone conclusion.
Phase 5: The virus is now spreading amongst humans in at least two countries. A pandemic is now imminent.
Phase 6: A global pandemic is under way, characterised by community-level outbreaks in several countries.

Past flu pandemics

1918: The Spanish flu pandemic remains the most devastating outbreak of modern times. Caused by a form of the H1N1 strain of flu, it is estimated that up to 40% of the world's population were infected and more than 50 million people died, with young adults particularly badly affected.
1957: The Asian flu killed two million people. Caused by a human form of the virus, H2N2, combining with a mutated strain found in wild ducks. The impact of the pandemic was minimised by rapid action by health authorities, who identified the virus and made vaccine available rapidly.
1968: Caused by a strain known as H3N2, the most recent flu pandemic was first detected in Hong Kong and claimed the lives of an estimated one million people globally.

Further information

Health Protection Agency
World Health Organisation (WHO)
Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO)
NHS

Check for regular swine flu updates in our travel news section.

Author: Coralie Modschiedler

05 May 2009

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