SWINE FLU FAST BASIC FACTS

1. What is swine flu?
   It is a highly contagious acute respiratory disease of the pigs caused by the A/H1N1 strains of the influenza virus. It regularly causes high flu outbreaks in pigs but with low death rates.

2. Where do outbreaks occur?
   Swine flu is considered endemic in the United States and outbreaks in pigs have also been reported elsewhere in North America, South America, Europe, Africa and parts of Eastern Asia.

3. How does it spread?
   Swine flu viruses do not typically infect humans but through close proximity or contact with infected pigs or contaminated areas and through some cases of limited human-to-human transmission have been reported.

4. What are the symptoms?
   It is very similar to a regular flu: fever, lethargy, runny nose, cough, sore throat and lack of appetite and for some – vomiting and diarrhoea.

5. Is it safe to eat pork?
   No. Swine influenza viruses are not transmitted by food. The World Health Organisation says properly handled and prepared pork products are safe to eat. Cooking pork to an internal temperature of 70 degrees Celcius or higher kills the swine flu virus.

6. Is the risk of a pandemic going to happen?
   Since the swine flu outbreaks in Mexico and the United States were identified, the risk of a pandemic has increased. Health officials worry the swine flu may develop into a form easly spread among humans. To do this, it could combine with a human flu virus or mutate on its own into a transmissible form. Experts also worry that the more the virus circulates, the risk of a pandemic strain will emerge. However, there is no way to predict when a pandemic strain will develop.

7. Can swine flu be treated with antiviral drugs and flu vaccine?
   The swine flu is resistant to two common drugs – Amantadine and Rimantadine. The H1N1 swine flu viruses are very different from human H1N1 viruses. Health officials say there is no suggestion that the vaccine prepared for seasonal flu will protect against swine flu. While people who are given the seasonal flu vaccine will probably be not protected against swine flu, it may prevent them from getting the seasonal flu. If they are then infected with the swine flu, that reduces the possibility of the two flus mixing in that person to create a potential pandemic strain.
   However, a “seed vaccine” has been specifically tailored to this swine flu and will be manufactured if officials deem it necessary.

8. What other treatment is available?
   The swine flu virus detected in Mexico and the United States appears to respond to treatment with oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza). In terms of prevention, mainaining good hygiene, regular hand-washing and staying a safe distance from those infected may help.

9. Are there any travel restrictions in place?

   Not at the present moment, although there are precautions being exercised. In South-East-Asia, Malaysia and Japan’s international airports have stepped up health surveillance, while the Philippines may quarantine feverish passengers who have been to Mexico. Thailand and Hong Kong said they are closely monitoring the situation.

The above articles have been extracted from local newspapers dated 27 April 2009.

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