Swine Flu General Info, Trichy online

Swine Flu (H1N1 Virus) - Basic Q&A

What is swine flu?
Swine influenza is a disease in pigs. The virus currently spreading among people is now generally referred to as swine flu, although the origin of the disease is still under investigation. There are regular outbreaks of swine flu in pigs worldwide. It does not normally infect humans, although this does sometimes happen, usually in people who have had close contact with pigs. Swine flu viruses are usually of the H1N1 subtype. The swine flu that has spread to humans is a version of this virus.

Why is swine flu affecting humans?
Because the swine flu virus has mutated (changed) and is now able to infect humans and transmit between them.

Which people are most vulnerable from swine flu?
Those who are more at risk from becoming seriously ill with swine flu are people with: • chronic (long-term) lung disease, including people who have had drug treatment for their asthma within the past three years, • chronic heart disease, • chronic kidney disease, • chronic liver disease, • chronic neurological disease (neurological disorders include motor neurone disease, Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis), • suppressed immune systems (whether caused by disease or treatment), • diabetes, • pregnant women, • people aged 65 or older, and • young children under five.

How is the swine flu infection diagnosed?
The following people should call their GP directly for an assessment of their symptoms and a diagnosis: • those with a serious existing illness, such as cancer • pregnant women, • those who have a sick child under one, • those with a condition that suddenly gets much worse, or • those with a condition that is still getting worse after seven days (five for a child).

Is the new swine flu virus contagious?
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) says the new swine flu virus is highly contagious and is spreading from person to person. Swine flu spreads in the same way as ordinary colds and flu. The virus is spread through the droplets that come out of the nose or mouth when someone coughs or sneezes. If someone coughs or sneezes and they do not cover it, those droplets can spread about one metre (3ft). If you are very nearby you might breathe them in. Or, if someone coughs or sneezes into their hand, those droplets and the virus within them are easily transferred to surfaces that the person touches, such as door handles, hand rails, telephones and keyboards. If you touch these surfaces and touch your face, the virus can enter your system, and you can become infected.

How long does the virus live on surfaces?
The flu virus can live on a hard surface for up to 24 hours, and a soft surface for around 20 minutes.

What is the incubation period for swine flu?
According to the Health Protection Agency, the incubation period for swine flu (time between infection and appearance of symptoms) can be up to seven days, but it is most likely to be between two and five days. But it is too early to be able to provide details on virus characteristics, including incubation period, with total certainty at this time.

When are people most infectious?
People are most infectious to others soon after they develop symptoms, although they continue to shed the virus (for example, in coughs and sneezes) for up to five days (seven days in children). People become less infectious as their symptoms subside, and once their symptoms are gone they are no longer considered infectious to others.

Will I die from swine flu?
For most people, the illness has been mild and self-limiting. The virus has caused severe illness in a minority of people, many of whom have had underlying risk factors such as a long-term condition.

What are the symptoms of swine flu?
The symptoms of swine flu in people are expected to be similar to the symptoms of regular human seasonal flu and include fever (a high body temperature of 38°C/100.4°F or over), fatigue, lack of appetite and coughing. Some people with swine flu have also reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.

How does swine flu cause death?
Like any other type of flu, people can die from swine flu if they develop complications, like pneumonia.

Should I go to work or school if I have been in contact with someone who I know has swine flu?
Yes, as long as you do not have flu-like symptoms. If you are feeling well, you should go about your normal activities, including going to school or work. It can take up to seven days (normally two to five days) after infection for swine flu symptoms to develop. If you develop symptoms, stay at home and follow the general advice.

How much contact should I have with family and friends?
Avoid all unnecessary contact with family and friends during the time you are infectious, which is usually until five days after your symptoms started (seven days in children). Once your symptoms have gone, you are no longer infectious. Keeping one metre or more away from people’s faces will mean that droplets from your throat are unlikely to affect others. Where possible, you can avoid exposing your partner to infection by sleeping in the spare room.

What can I do?
You can reduce, but not get rid of, the risk of catching or spreading swine flu by: • Always covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. • Disposing of dirty tissues promptly and carefully. • Maintaining good basic hygiene, for example washing hands often with soap and warm water to reduce the spread of the virus from your hands to face, or to other people. • Cleaning hard surfaces, such as door handles, often and thoroughly using a normal cleaning product.

Are alcohol handrubs better than soap and water?
Both alcohol handrubs and washing with soap and water are important in minimising the risk of spreading swine flu, as they both deactivate the flu virus. Alcohol handrub can only be used on visibly clean hands. If hands are dirty, soap and water should be used. Handrubs are useful when there is no easy access to a place to wash and dry your hands.

Is swine flu treatable?
Testing has shown that the swine flu can be treated with the antiviral medicines oseltamavir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza). However, the drugs must be taken at an early stage to be effective.

What do antivirals do?
Antivirals are not a cure, but they help you to recover by: • relieving some of the symptoms, • reducing the length of time you are ill by around one day, and • reducing the potential for serious complications, such as pneumonia.

Are pregnant women more likely to catch swine flu?
Yes. Pregnant women are more susceptible to all infections, because their immune system is naturally suppressed in pregnancy. They are especially vulnerable to swine flu, as this virus is affecting younger age groups in particular.

Does swine flu pose special risks in pregnant women?
Most pregnant women with swine flu will only have mild symptoms like most other people with swine flu. However, pregnant women have an increased risk of complications from any type of flu, because their immune system is naturally supressed in pregnancy. Possible complications are pneumonia (an infection of the lungs), difficulty breathing and dehydration, which are more likely to happen in the second and third trimester. There is a small chance that these complications will lead to premature labour or miscarriage. There is not yet enough information to know precisely how likely these birth risks are.

What special precautions can pregnant women take?
If you are pregnant, you can reduce your risk of infection by avoiding unnecessary travel and avoiding crowds where possible. Pregnant women should also follow the general hygiene advice. Unless you have swine flu symptoms, carry on attending your antenatal appointments so you can monitor the progress of your pregnancy.

How do I tell if my child has swine flu?
Call your GP immediately if your child has any of the following symptoms and a temperature of 38°C or above or feels hot: • tiredness • headache, • runny nose and sneezing, • sore throat, • shortness of breath, • loss of appetite, • vomiting and diarrhoea, or • aching muscles, limb and joint pain.

I have diabetes. Am I at more at risk from swine flu?
You are no more likely to catch swine flu than anyone else. However, if you do catch it, your blood glucose may increase and your diabetes treatment may need to be adjusted accordingly.

Are older people more likely to catch swine flu?
It is not yet known, but most cases so far in the UK have been in those younger than 60. Some older people may have partial resistance to the swine flu virus, due to being exposed to a similar flu virus in a previous pandemic.

Source: National Health Service, UK.