Why does the Swine Flu spread so fast around the world?

Answer 1

It is believed to be because this is an entirely new virus that people have never been exposed to before at any time in history. It is unusual in that it has the genetic components from swine, birds, and humans. Most viruses have been around since before recorded history in forms that were similar enough to each other, even though there have been many mutations, that our bodies, either through our inherited immunizations, or from everyday exposure to less virulent versions of the viruses, were able to prevent them from causing much disease except in immunocompromised individuals or the weak and infirm. We are more vulnerable to having the virus get a foothold and infect us when our immune systems have not been primed to recognize the virus in time to stop it before incubation allows it to shed and infect others.

Because it could infect so many people so quickly, it had lots of hosts to create more and more of it and carry it from place to place and to person to person and that allowed it to spread very quickly. Luckily, so far, it is mild in the symptoms it causes.

Answer 2

Because Swine Flu is a completely new strain, our immune systems are not used to it and are slower at responding to it and destroying it. Our immune systems are familiar with other common flus and react faster to defend us from them before we can pass them on.

Answer 3

So swine flu, like most influenza viruses, is spread through a mechanism we call droplets. So anytime you cough or sneeze, that little bit of spit that comes out is what we call droplets. It can be suspended in the air for a few minutes, but typically won't stay in the air for long periods of time, but then lands on surfaces.

Once it lands on a surface, it can sometimes live up to a day, usually only a few hours depending the conditions that you actually have.

The way it actually spreads is that your hands then come into contact with this droplets on the surfaces, and then you touch your nose, or touch your mouth, or touch your eyes like we do frequently, and it allows the virus to come into contact with the inner linings of these areas which is called your mucosal surfaces. And that's where the virus can attach and then begin to spread and cause infection.

Answer 4

Different flu viruses have varying abilities to be transmitted from person to person. Avian "Bird" flu, for example does not pass easily from person to person and is usually passed bird to person. H1N1/09 Swine Flu happens to be one that is very easily transferred among people. In addition, the world has gotten smaller, more people travel longer distances and business and industry requires more and more international travel. Having troops in war, especially now with so many theaters of confrontation is also a contributor to the spread, as they move from location to location, for R&R, from war to home front and back, etc. Crowded conditions also add to the ease of a virus spreading, and as people travel in crowded airports and train stations, there are more and more opportunities to come into contact with someone who has the flu virus. It is a combination of factors, but mostly related to close proximity of people in the current day.