1) Vaccine For Pigs
A vaccine is available for pigs. The vaccine, which is readily available, will prevent the swine flu in pigs.
2) But No Vaccine For People
A vaccine is not available for humans. If you receive the seasonal influenza vaccine, it may provide some protection against the swine HSN2 virus, but it will not offer any protection against the H1N1 virus.
3) Signs in Pigs
Infected pigs show signs of the flu including sudden fever, coughing and a runny discharge from the eyes and nose. The pig may have difficulty breathing and have a loss of appetite.
4) Depression in Pigs
Infected pigs may suffer from depression. How to tell if a pig is depressed may be a challenge.
5) Human Symptoms
If you become infected with the swine flu, your symptoms may include a fever, loss of appetite and coughing. You may become lethargic. In addition, you may have a sore throat, runny nose, diarrhea, and a feeling of nausea. See your doctor quickly if you have these symptoms.
6) The Flu Pandemic Of 1918
The last major flu pandemic in the United States took place in 1918. An estimated 675,000 Americans died of influenza during the pandemic, ten times as many as in the world war. It infected 28% of all Americans (Tice).
7) Level 5 Threat
On April 29, the World Health Organization (WHO) raised its level of influenza pandemic alert from Phase 4 to Phase 5. The maximum alert level is 6, which is a full-blown pandemic.
It’s A Global Issue
As of May 4, 2009, the WHO reported 21 countries had officially reported 1,085 cases of Swine Flu, or influenza A (H1N1) infection.
9) Natural Immunity
Humans are believed to have some level of natural immunity to the swine flu.
10) Compared To The Spanish Flu
Scientists feel the swine flu lacks the DNA traits of the Spanish flu.
11) Contagious From Human To Human
The swine flu spreads easily from human to human. This is unlike other strains of animal flu. 
12) Hygiene Helps
Good hygiene will reduce the chances of contracting the swine flu. Wash your hands often using soap and water. Also use gel hand sanitizer after you come into contact with people or public objects.
13) Mutating Virus
While Tamiflu seems to combat the swine virus at this time, scientists are concerned that the virus may mutate. If this happens, Tamiflu may no longer be effective. The antiviral medicine Tamiflu is well stocked around the world. Most countries have an abundant supply and the drug is readily available.
14) Discovered In 1930
The swine flu virus was first isolated from a pig in 1930.
15) Not Present In The U.S. Until 1988
While the swine flu was first isolated in 1930, it was not present in the U.S. until 1988.
16) It Is Seasonal
Like the human flu season, the swine flu is seasonal. The peak season for swine flu in pigs is late fall and winter.
17) Does It Kill Pigs?
The death rate in pigs as a result of the swine flu is very low although the virus does cause a high level of illness in pigs.
18) There Are 4 Strains Of The Virus
The most common strain of the swine flu is the H1N1 virus. However, three other strains have been isolated in pigs: H1N2, H3N2, and H3N1.
19) Can We Catch It From Pigs?
Humans do not normally contract the swine flu however direct exposure to infected pigs can lead to an infection. You should avoid contact with pigs at the county fair or petting zoos, etc.
20) Previous Outbreak In Pigs In 1988
In 1988, there was an outbreak of the swine flu in pigs. The disease spread to humans although it was contained to a small group.
21) Recent Cases In Humans
Over the past four years, the CDC reported only 12 cases of human-swine influenza.
22) Can You Contract the Virus From Eating Pork?
You will not contract the swine flu virus from eating pork. The virus is not transmitted by consuming food. Properly cooking pork to the recommended internal temperature of 160 degrees will kill the swine flu virus.
23) Outbreak Of 1976
In 1976, there was an outbreak of swine flu in Fort Dix, NJ. Four otherwise healthy soldiers suffered from pneumonia. One of the soldiers who had the swine flu died. More than 200 people were infected.
24) Fatality In 1988
In September of 1988, a woman became infected with the swine flu, was hospitalized with pneumonia, and later died. The woman had visited a county fair four days earlier. The flu was widespread amongst the pigs.
25) Testing For The Virus
A respiratory specimen is required to test a human for infection of the swine flu virus. Samples must be collected within the first 4 or 5 days of the onset of the illness.
26) Medications
Several medications are available for treatment of the swine flu in humans. The two common drugs are oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza).
You may order Tamiflu on AccessRx.com.
27) When Should I Take Medications?
To be most effective, you should take medications within 2 days of developing symptoms for any flu virus. It is imperative to seek medical attention as soon as you show symptoms of the illness.
28) Resistance To Medications
The most recent outbreak of the swine flu is somewhat resistant to flu medications amantadine and remintadine. The CDC recommends the use of zanamivir or oseltamivir for treatment at this time.
29) Tamiflu And Relenza
Although studies show that students who take Tamiflu or Relenza daily are less likely to contract the flu virus, doctors recommend Tamiflu not to be taken until symptoms exist. Doctors also warn that a strain of flu can become resistant to a medication, rendering it less effective.
30) Tamiflu Side Effects
In order to take Tamiflu or Relenza, children must be at least 1 year old. Tamiflu is available as a liquid as well. The most common side effects are mild to moderate nausea and vomiting. People with the flu, particularly children and adolescents, may be at an increased risk of self injury and confusion shortly after taking Tamiflu and should be closely monitored for signs of unusual behavior. A healthcare professional should be contacted immediately if the patient shows any signs of unusual behavior. Tamiflu is normally not recommended for use during pregnancy or nursing, as the effects on the unborn child or nursing infant are unknown.
31) 25% Of Pigs Worldwide Infected At Some Time
Studies have shown that 25% of pigs worldwide have at some point been infected with the H1N1 swine flu virus.
32) 30% Of Pigs In The U.S. Had Swine Flu
In the United States, 30% of pigs show evidence of antibodies for the H1N1 flu.
33) 51% of Pigs In North Central U.S. Had Swine Flu
A higher concentration of the swine flu exists in pigs in the north-central states. Up to 51% of pigs in this area show signs of swine flu antibodies.
34) Schools May Close For 14 Days
The transmission of the virus usually takes place in the first 4 days of infection. In children, however, the virus can continue to spread for up to 10 days. For this reason, the CDC recommends closing schools for 14 days in the event of a widespread swine flu epidemic.
35) Who Makes The Decision To Close The Schools?
The local authorities in your area will make the decision on whether or not to close schools and daycare facilities. They must, however, work closely with the state health officials to coordinate the effort state-wide and to make the appropriate decisions.
36) 6 stages Of A Pandemic
The World Health Organization has established 6 alert phases to distinguish the severity of a pandemic. The levels are communicated to the public and to the government so appropriate action can be taken.
Pandemic Phase 1:
In a Pandemic Phase 1 alert, no animal-to-human infections have occurred. The virus still exists among animals, but there are no reported infections in humans.
Pandemic Phase 2:
In a Pandemic Phase 2 alert, an animal-to-human infection has occurred and been identified. This is considered to be a potential pandemic threat.
Pandemic Phase 3:
In a Pandemic Phase 3 alert, there have been several confirmed cases of animal-to-human infections. In a phase 3 alert, the outbreak is limited to animal-to-human transmission. No human-to-human cases are reported other than the unusual case of a close caregiver. The clusters are small.
Pandemic Phase 4:
In a Pandemic Phase 4 alert, human-to-human infections have been confirmed. At this point, the risk for a community-level outbreak is high. A pandemic can still be avoided if containment procedures are implemented at this time.
Pandemic Phase 5:
In a Pandemic Phase 5 alert, there has been an infection in 2 countries transmitted by human-to-human contact. The 2 countries must be in the region monitored by the World Health Organization. At this stage, a pandemic may be imminent. It is time to prepare an implementation plan to mitigate the pandemic, should one occur.
Pandemic Phase 6:
The final stage in the Pandemic Alert is Phase 6. If a human-to-human infection occurs in two World Health Countries plus one additional country, a Phase 6 alert will be issued. This level indicates that a global pandemic is underway. To be deemed a level 6 threat, the virus must pass successively between three unrelated people on two continents.
37) Pandemic Post-Peak Period
The level of infection will drop in the post-peak period in most countries. Care must be taken to keep the containment plan in place to avoid a second wave of infection.
38) Pandemics Can Last For Months
In previous pandemics, the infection spread among humans for months. The virus would seem to come in waves. As the activity dropped, people would become less cautious and another wave would ensue.
39) Swine Flu Tracker
You can sign up for up-to-date swine flu tracker news. The information will be sent directly to your phone or iPod. You can also track the news online at www.who.int, www.pandemicflu.gov, & www.cdc.gov.
40) Countries Of The World
Outbreaks of the 2009 swine flu have been reported in the following areas: North America, South America, the UK, Sweden, Italy, Kenya, and parts of Asia including Japan and China.
41) It Takes Years To Develop
The avian H1N1 virus and the human H3N2 virus were both detected in pigs several years before they developed the ability to spread.
42) Why Pigs?
Pigs are the major source of the influenza virus H3N2 and H1N1. The viruses are endemic in pigs due to the husbandry practices (agricultural breeding and raising of livestock). Pigs are the only domesticated mammal species to be reared in abundance.
43) 40 Million People Vaccinated
In 1976, more than 40 million people were vaccinated. This was in response to the swine flu outbreak at Fort Dix, NJ.
44) Will The Vaccine From 1976 Protect Me?
If you received a vaccine in 1976, you are probably no longer protected. Today’s strain of the swine flu is much different than the 1976 virus.
45) Is There A Serious Threat Of An Epidemic?
The U.S. government has declared a public health emergency in response to the recent outbreak of the swine flu. However, during the first week of May, 2009, the threat of a full-blown epidemic seemed to be subsiding because the number of deaths caused by the flu had been minimal.
46) Should I Wear A Respirator?
While there is no evidence to prove that a respirator will protect you completely from the virus, NIOSH and the CDC have approved certain respirators for protection against airborne pathogens.
47) Low Mortality Rate
While the swine flu is a new strain of the flu virus, the mortality rate remains relatively low worldwide at about 1%, and less than that in the United States. The key to survival is seeking early treatment at the onset of the virus.
48) If A Pandemic Occurred
If a deadly strain of Swine Flu were to cause a full-blown, worldwide pandemic, one estimate predicts 2 to 5 million people could die.
In the past, pandemics affected 25% to 35% of the population.
50) 20-To-45-Year-Olds Were Hardest Hit in 1918
During the flu pandemic of 1918, the age group that experienced the highest death rate was 20-to-45-year olds, which was very surprising because usually children and the elderly are the hardest hit.
51) What Is A Reassortant Virus?
If a pig becomes infected by two viruses at the same time, the genes from the 2 viruses can mix. The resultant virus is called a reassortant virus. This will add to the difficulty of treatment and the development of an effective vaccine.
52) Do Humans Have Natural Antibodies?
Humans who do not have regular contact with swine will not have a natural immunity to the swine flu virus.
53) Do Farmers Have Natural Antibodies?
Up to 25% of pig farmers may have been infected with the swine flu virus at some point. They will have some degree of natural antibodies. The virus has also been detected in approximately 10% of veterinarians.
54) 20 Million Deaths In 1918
The flu pandemic of 1918 caused more than 20 million deaths worldwide.
55) When Were The 4 Strains Discovered?
Each of the 4 strains of the swine flu resulted in an outbreak/pandemic. They occurred as follows: H1N1 in 1918, H2N2 in 1957, H3N2 in 1968, and H1N1 in 1977.
56) How Can We Track The Mortality Rate?
In a pandemic, a simple method is used to track the mortality rate caused by the swine flu. The CDC will simply monitor the increased rate or excess in mortality of pneumonia and influenza patients.
57) Global Surveillance
The World Health Organization sponsors a network of laboratories around the world to provide global surveillance of the influenza virus. This information can be used to make decisions on implementing countermeasures such as travel restrictions.
58) Will We Be Forced To Stay At Home?
If a serious pandemic occurs, local governments may ask you to stay in your home. This will prevent the spread of the illness. Be sure to stock up on supplies in advance. You should keep a minimum of a one- week supply of water, food and medications on hand.
59) What Is The SNS?
The SNS or the Strategic National Stockpile is a division of the CDC. The SNS is sending supplies to all 50 states in an effort to assist with the swine flu outbreak.
60) Is A Vaccine Available Today?
U.S. officials are gathering data and collecting potential ingredients for a vaccine, however none is available today.
61) How Long Will It Be Before A Vaccine Is Available?
The estimate for the release of a swine flu (H1N1) vaccine is Fall, 2009.
62) Will The New Vaccine Have Side Effects?
While science has come a long way in the development of vaccines and medications, there is no way to predict all of the potential side effects although the new vaccine will be tested thoroughly prior to release to the public.
63) Can I Recover Without The Vaccine?
Most cases of the swine flu in the U.S. have been moderate. With proper treatment and care, patients have tended to recover quickly with products such as Tamiflu, available at AccessRx.com.
64) Will The Death Toll Rise?
Experts at first predicted that the death toll from the swine flu would rise in the U.S. However, only one death had been reported through the first week of May in the U.S. (a child visiting from Mexico).
65) How Long Would A Pandemic Last?
A pandemic of global proportions could continue for months. It could carry on for a second flu season.
66) How Is The Vaccine Produced?
It may seem archaic, but vaccines today are produced using an egg-based production technique. The virus is grown in actual chicken eggs. Each egg may produce only two doses of the vaccine.
67) How Can Swine Flu Be Prevented in Pigs?
Several steps can be taken to reduce the swine flu infection in pigs although it can’t be eliminated completely. Farmers should vaccinate their herds. Farm workers must practice good hygiene. Swine pens should be adequately ventilated.
68) Should I Stop Breastfeeding If I Have The Flu?
A woman’s breast milk contains antibodies to combat diseases they have come in contact with. It is important to continue breastfeeding to pass the antibodies on to your baby and to help your baby develop the ability to fight off diseases on his own.
69) What If My Baby Is Sick, Should I Still Breastfeed?
If your baby is sick, you should continue to breastfeed. This is one of the best things you could do for your baby. Breast milk will strengthen your baby’s immune system.
70) Can I Contract The Virus By Handling Laundry?
You can become infected from handling the laundry. You should avoid holding the laundry close to your body. Use a basket and disinfect the basket after use. Wash your hands after each load.
71) Can I Contract The Virus By Handling Kitchen Utensils?
The swine flu virus can be passed through contact with kitchen utensils. The high heat and steam dry cycles of the dishwasher will kill the virus however.
72) Can Kissing Spread The Virus?
Absolutely. Actual body contact is not even necessary, as mentioned above.
73) The Stats
According to the latest stats as published by the CDC as of May 5, 2009 at 1 p.m. EST, there are eight states that have reported at least 10 cases of Swine Flu. These are: New York (90), Illinois (82), California (49), Texas (41), Delaware (20), Arizona (17), South Carolina (16), Oregon (15). Of these, only one death has been reported.
74. What Does The Virus Look Like?
Pictured to the left is a magnefied view of the H1N1 virus.
75. Can the Swine Flu Virus Reappear Again?
Acting CDC Director Richard Besser said it is possible that the Swine Flu could generally disappear and then reappear again during the flu season beginning in September. The flu generally does not transmit easily during the hotter summer months. It is hard to predict if the virus would be stronger if it reappeared. It could perhaps mutate or morph into a similar but different strain. Active flu viruses are always changing, and this is evident in the fact that the annual flu shots that patients receive year over year contain different flu strains/antibodies.
