In these days all we hear to talk about in the media is about how many people is infected with the virus H1N1. But do we know what really is that virus? I´ll try to explain a little about it and will give some tips not to be infected too.

The Influenza virus

Influenza is a contagious disease resulting from the influenza virus infection. The influenza virus may reach different species like human, poultry, pigs, etc. and infects the respiratory tract, sinuses (nasal nose, throat, lungs and ears). There is a specificity of certain strains for each species, that is viruses that infect, for example, rarely birds usually infect humans. However, a kind specific virus may mutate under ability to infect different species. The experts believe that the next pandemic (major epidemic in various geographical areas appears more or less simultaneously) influenza may emerge in this way.

Influenza A (H1N1) or swine influenza

The "swine flu" is a respiratory infection that affects swine. On Humans doesn't exist "swine flu" but "human influenza" swine origin. This can be caused by some virus of the type influenza A virus, which can have infected some pig and have become in this host. The disease may arise as a regular outbreaks in pigs. In normal conditions people are not affected by "virus" swine flu, and human infection may only occur sporadically. These "virus" swine flu was several times detected in some countries in the past. Its human human propagation was always limited and unsubstantiated beyond three people. Currently a new strain of swine origin influenza, also called "flu" is in circulation in various countries of various continents constituting a potential cause of flu pandemic.

How does this virus pass from one person to another?

This strain of influenza virus is transmitted by air from person to person through droplets of an individual patient, especially for coughs and sneezes, but also by hand contact with contaminated objects and/or surfaces.

What to do not to be infected?

That are 2 things we must do not to be infected or infect others:

1) Wash your hands very well, often during the day, with water and soap and whenever you sneeze or cough or clean your nose.

2) Cover your nose and your mouth when you sneeze or cough with a tissue or if you don´t have one do it with your arm. Never do it with your hands! If you use a tissue you must throw it in the trash.

You must take some cares:

a) avoid the proximity of people with flu symptoms: fever, cough, sore muscles, and sometimes vomiting and diarrhoea

b) avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth without have washed your hands

c) clean often objects and surfaces such as pushers of doors, handrails, telephones and computers

I hope this information is usefull for some people and that helps some persons to avoid being infected.