• Swine flu is caused by a influenza virus living in pigs,so it is called swine flu.
• There are three types of influenza viruses called influenza A virus,influenza B virus and influenza C virus.
• Influenza A virus has subtypes like H1N1, H1N2, H3N1, H3N2, H2N3.
• 2009 outbreak of swine flu is caused by Influenza A virus subtype H1N1.
• Swine flu is also called "H1N1 influenza"^,"2009 H1N1 flu" or "swine-origin influenza".
• It is due to a mutation ("reassortment") of four known strains of influenza A virus subtype H1N1: one endemic in humans, one endemic in birds, and two endemic in pigs (swine).
• The new virus is a mixture is a mixture of the mutated triple virus and parts from Eurasian strains of flu.
• The virus contains genes from four different flu viruses:

            1. North American swine influenza

            2. North American avian influenza

            3. Human influenza

            4. Swine influenza

• some doctors think that swine flu causes mild symptoms because its proteins are similar to the viruses causing mild influenza in humans.
• But some scientists think that the swine flu virus(H1N1) can exchange genetic material with H5N1 virus and produce a hybrid virus which is very dangerous.

1. Sneezes or coughs:

• It can be spread by sneezes or coughs.
• So masks should be used while going out.
• Health care workers should use respirators when they are near swine flu patients.

2. Touching :

• The virus can live upto two hours outside the body.
• so it can be transmitted by touching infected door knobs, glasses, kitchen utensils, or touching the skin of an infected person and then touching your own mouth or nose.

3. Safe to eat pork :

• swine flu cannot be spread by eating processed pork or food products derived from pork.
• It cannot be spread between species.
• But recently swine flu spread from a canadian farmer to pigs which is a exception.

• A test conducted by WHO found that the case-fatality rate (CFR) is in a range from 0.3% to 1.4%, with 0.4% the most likely value

• Most influenza strains produce the worst symptoms in young children, the elderly, and others with weaker immune systems

• The symptoms of swine flu are similar to influenza.

• They include:

                1.fever

                2.coughing

                3.headaches

                4.pain in the muscles or joints

                5.sore throat

                6.chills

                7.fatigue

                8.runny nose.

                9.Diarrhea and vomiting have also been reported in some cases

• severe symptoms in kids:

                1.blue lips and skin

                2.dehydration

                3.rapid breathing

                4.excessive sleeping

                5.severe irritability

• severe symptoms in adults:

               1.shortness of breath

               2.pain in the chest or abdomen

               3.sudden dizziness

               4.confusion

• In both adults and children severe vomiting needs medical care.

• A respiratory sample collected within the first five days of illness will be collected.
• The sample is sent to the CDC for laboratory analysis and confirmation.

· Yes it can be prevented by some measures:

• washing of hands with soap and water or with alcohol-based hand sanitizers, especially after being out in public.
• Avoiding contact with ill persons
• Staying home form work and/or school upon onset and for the duration of symptoms
• Providing tissues in common areas of homes, common and public areas.
• Encouraging pursuit of medical evaluation at earliest onset of symptoms.
• Use of masks to those who are exhibiting symptoms or who are ill.
• Maintenance of a 3 to 6 foot perimeter around a coughing patient.

· CDC(center for disease control) five, flu-safety tips, which will help you avoid swine flu (or any flu). They'll also help to ensure that the virus doesn't spread needlessly:

• Tip #1: Stay home if you're sick.
• Tip #2: Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Tip #3: Wash your hands often and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Tip #4: Cover your mouth or nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
• Tip #5: Keep up with health information in your own community

People at higher risk of serious complications are:

1. people age 65 years and older

2. children younger than 5 years old

3. pregnant women

4. people of any age with chronic medical conditions like:

• asthma
• diabetes
• heart disease

5. people who are immunosuppressed .e.g:

• taking immunosuppressive medications
• infected with HIV

• Influenza vaccines are used to prevent seasonal flu.
• They use injection of a killed virus as a vaccine.
• But this vaccine cannot be used to prevent swine flu.
• So experts are trying to produce a new swine flu vaccine or add a new H1N1 virus component to the seasonal flu vaccine

· It can be treated by some home remedies like:

• Adequate hydration

• Rest

• Drinking of soup to ease congestion

• Over the counter drygs for relieving pain

· It can also be treated by antiviral drugs like:

• Antiviral drugs used are oseltamivir(tamiflu) and zanamivir(relenza)

• The drugs work well if given within 2 days of becoming ill.
• Drugs should not be taken for just prevention as it may produce viral drug resistance.