Swine Flu Fact

The Swine Influenza Virus has a mortality rate of less then 10% among humans. The most likely to suffer death from the virus are the very young and the extremely old that lack the hearty immune systems to fight off the infection. The Swine Flue vaccine is not effective because it is a rapidly mutating wild virus and vaccines on hand are not similar enough to the circulating infection for a human body to recognize that it has encountered the virus before. It is possible that a vaccine may be created later. The virus is treatable by anti viral drugs that stop the virus from reproducing inside a human body.

Many strains are resistant to some anti viral drugs but none have surfaced yet that are immune to all. The greatest fear is that as the virus continues to travel between hosts, picking up new DNA and mutating further, that it will become resistant to all forms of medication. This fear is particularly persistent due to people who take anti viral drugs irresponsibly, not using up the entire prescribed medication because they quickly feel better, or taking the medication not as directed by their doctor.

As the epidemic continues to develop it is likely that the virus will continue to become more resistant. The most successful way for protecting yourself is to follow the precautions listed here. The Swine flu is known to worsen underlying conditions in people who become infected, so if you are struggling with a cold, whooping cough or other health problem expect it to get worse after you have been infected.

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way. The Swine Influenza virus spreads mainly through infected body fluids being inhaled by a non-infected person. Contact with the mucus membranes where the barrier of the skin is not as thick will also increase chances of being infected.

The Swine Flu is normally contained to animals, and has regular outbreaks in pigs, original cases started with people in close contact with pigs and pig materials. Only after the Swine Flu virus has infected one or more human beings in contact with pigs does it begin to mutate and become the Swine Influenza Virus A (H1N1), which is directly transmittable between human hosts in the ways previously mentioned.