Swine Flu Outbreak of 2009

Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza that regularly cause outbreaks of influenza among pigs. Swine flu viruses do not normally infect humans, however, human infections with swine flu do occur, and cases of human-to-human spread of swine flu viruses has been documented. Since March 2009, a number of confirmed human cases of a new strain of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection in California, Texas, and Mexico have been identified. An investigation into these cases is ongoing.

And in Mexico, a unique strain of swine flu is the suspected killer of dozens of people in Mexico, where authorities closed schools, museums, libraries and theaters in the capital on Friday to try to contain an outbreak that has spurred concerns of a global flu epidemic.

The worrisome new virus which combines genetic material from pigs, birds and humans in a way researchers have not seen before _ also sickened at least eight people in Texas and California, though there have been no deaths in the U.S.

UPDATES
* Apr 27, 2009 - Twitter Hit By Swine Flu Virus
* Apr 27, 2009 - Things You Need to Know About the Swine Flu Outbreak

Symptoms of Swine Flu

Symptoms of the new strain are similar to regular flu symptoms, like fever cough and sore throat. This strain is presenting with more vomiting and diarrhea than regular flu. The viruses cannot be spread through eating pork. Those infected will show symptoms within 9 days or so, and be contagious for up to 7 days.

Overcoming the Swine Flu

The latest Swine Flu viruses have proved resistant to amantadine and rimantadine anti-viral drugs. They are, however, susceptible to oseltamivir and zanamivir, both newer anti-viral drugs for flu.

About Swine Influenza

Swine influenza (Swine flu) refers to influenza cases that are caused by Orthomyxoviruses endemic to populations of pigs. The viruses are referred to as Swine influenza viruses (SIV). The distinction is not based on phylogeny. SIV strains isolated to date have been classified either as Influenzavirus C or one of the various subtypes of the genus Influenzavirus A. In short, Swine influenza virus develops first in pigs and carried to humans.

Swine Flu Keywords

The Swine Flu keywords have been buzzing across the Internet landscape and the general public are all curious on the possible latest outbreak. Emerging keywords observed on Google HotTrends include: swine flu symptoms, swine flu more condition symptoms, cdc.gov, pig flu, swine flu san diego, pandemic, swine virus, center for disease control, swine flu mexico, swine influenza virus, swine flu in mexico, pig influenza, schweinepest, pig flu mexico, Pig flu sparks epidemic fears, can you get the swine flu from eating hotdogs, swine flue, tamiflu, spanish flu, swin flue.

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