Swine flu (also called swine influenza, or simply, flu) is an acute respiratory disease of pigs (also called hogs or swine) caused by a tiny spheroid virus that belongs to the Influenza A virus group. Symptoms of swine flu in swine herds include fever, inactivity, nasal discharge, labored breathing, mouth breathing, and paroxysmal coughing when the pigs are moved. All ages are susceptible. Mortality rates are generally low and pigs recover within 5 to 7 days after initial symptoms.

symptoms swine flu

Calling the swine flu outbreak in Mexico and the United States a "public health emergency of international concern," the World Health Organization asked countries around the world Saturday to step up their reporting and surveillance of influenza.

At Mexico City's international airport, passengers were questioned to try to prevent anyone with flu symptoms from boarding aeroplanes and ­spreading the disease. Britain's Foreign Office issued a warning to travellers about the outbreak but stopped short of recommending people did not visit Mexico. US health officials did the same, urging visitors to wash their hands frequently.


Influenza virus A causes yearly epidemics that result in illness for humans, pigs, and domestic poultry. We now know that intra-species transmission is the norm. Indeed, pandemics are global epidemics among humans caused by the transmission of novel influenza A viruses generated via inter-species transmission. Pandemics are no longer thought of as tornadoes that suddenly thrust themselves upon human populations. Rather, we now know that herald epidemics in non-human and human species occur for variable amounts of time before a pandemic takes root. Thus, surveillance among human, swine and bird populations has become essential for early detection of viruses with pandemic potential and for initiation of prevention efforts, particularly vaccine development.

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- A deadly outbreak of a new Swine Flu strain has crossed the border into the United States.

The never-before-seen strain of the virus has killed dozens of people in Mexico, and sickened others in the U.S.

"It's pretty scary and surprising because that's a really big thing right now, and everyone's worried in Mexico City," Soccer Taco owner Nelia Kirtley said.

Kirtley just got back to Knoxville from Mexico Friday. But the owner of West Knoxville Mexican restaurant says she vacationed on the coast, not in the central and southern portions of the country, where people have gotten sick so far.

"Pretty much nobody talked about the flu over there. Everyone was having a good time and nobody mentioned anything. I didn't even know about it till I got back home," Kirtley said.

The flu strain has killed as many as 68 people and made more than thousand others sick in Mexico. Across the border, non-fatal cases have also been reported in Texas, California, Kansas, and possibly New York.

The U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has NOT told travelers to change any plans yet.

"It does give us concern to be aware that that could be something to consider in our patients that come in with something like the flu," Dr Scott Everett said at U.T. Medical Center.

Everett says common sense good hygiene is your best protection.

"Wash your hands, covering your mouth when you cough, washing your hands after you cough, just being aware of the symptoms," Everett said.

According to the CDC, those include fever, aches and pains, sore throat, coughing, and difficulty breathing. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting.

The CDC recommends being up-to-date on your vaccinations before you leave. Pay attention to local government announcements and follow any issued public health guidelines on your trip. Also, watch for any problems when you come home.

"Especially for seven days of returning from your trip," Everett said.

Exactly what Kirtley's already doing.

The World Health Organization says you can't get the Swine Flu from food. It says eating properly handled and cooked pork products is safe.

The CDC says two flu drugs seem effective against the new strain.
Source:http://www.volunteertv.com/news/headlines/43699132.html
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