What is swine flu?
Swine influenza is a disease that pigs get. 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.
There is no need to avoid contact with people who might simply have come into contact with those with the illness, such as the parents of children at schools with a confirmed case but who are not themselves ill.
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. Swine flu viruses are usually of the H1N1 sub-type. The swine flu that has spread to humans is a version of this virus.
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 chronic fatigue syndrome, 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
Is the new swine flu virus contagious?
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 does not cover it, those droplets can spread about one metre . If you are very close to them you might breathe these in.
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, phones 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 (the 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 currently too early to be able to provide details on virus characteristics, including incubation period, with total certainty.
When are people most infectious?
People are most infectious soon after they develop symptoms. They can continue to shed (spread) 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
Should I avoid contact with people suspected of having swine flu?
People with suspected swine flu will have been asked to stay at home and restrict their contact with people. Most people should continue their normal life, including going to school or work. This includes children who attend a school with a confirmed case of swine flu.
What are the symptoms of swine flu?
The symptoms of swine flu are expected to be similar to the symptoms of regular seasonal flu. People with swine flu typically have a fever or high temperature (over 38°C/100.4°F) and two or more of the following symptoms:
•unusual tiredness,
•headache
•runny nose,
•sore throat,
•shortness of breath or cough,
•loss of appetite,
•aching muscles,
•diarrhoea or vomiting.
What are the complications of swine flu?
One of the most common complications of any type of flu is a secondary bacterial chest infection, such as bronchitis (infection of the airways).
This can become serious and develop into pneumonia. A course of antibiotics will usually cure this, but the infection sometimes becomes life-threatening.
Other rare complications include:
•tonsillitis,
•otitis media (a build-up of fluid in the ear),
•septic shock (infection of the blood that causes a severe drop in blood pressure),
•meningitis (infection in the brain and spinal cord), and
•encephalitis (inflammation of the brain).
How much contact should I have with family and friends?
If you have swine flu, avoid unnecessary contact with family and friends while you are infectious, this is usually until five days after your symptoms started (seven days in children). Once your symptoms have gone, you are no longer infectious.
Keep one meter or more away from people’s faces to avoid droplets from your throat affecting 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 your 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.
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