Is Swine Flu contagous

Answer 1

Most of the indications in clinical settings suggest that it is not significantly "airborne", according to the medical use of that word (see reference to one such research effort below). Airborne in that sense would mean that it is in the air and stays in the air to move on air currents.

The term airborne infectious disease in medical terminology refers to microbes or viruses that can float and stay in the air and are able to be transmitted from person to person carried by air currents and breezes. By that definition, the Novel H1N1 (2009 Swine Flu) is not airborne. However, it can be in the air and able to be inhaled for short time periods when carried on respiratory droplets from coughs and sneezes. These are heavier than true airborne particles and will fairly quickly fall to the ground or onto surfaces (or people) in only the immediate area of the source.

There is some debate on this (see also below), but the guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Health Service (NHS) in the UK, and other infectious disease control and research organizations, for prevention of the spread of seasonal influenza and A-H1N1/09 (Swine Flu), include much more information concerned with the virus being spread by direct contact (e.g., on the hands) and from spread on respiratory droplets, instead of by a truly "airborne" route.

Coughing and sneezing by an infected person are the most common sources of the spread of influenza on respiratory droplets. Novel H1N1 (A-H1N1/09) can be on respiratory droplets for a short time in the air and then inhaled if you are within six feet of the person who coughed or sneezed. The droplets in the air carrying the virus will typically quickly fall to surfaces within that six foot radius. Once they are on the surfaces, they are easily picked up on hands and then from there transferred to another person or yourself (when the viruses from the surface come in contact with mucus membrane tissue in the nose, mouth, or eyes).

For the most effective protection against a direct transmission, it is recommended that you use good hygiene, and especially hand washing (or use hand sanitizers that are minimally 60% alcohol according to the product directions for use). In addition, the agencies mentioned above recommend that you maintain a distance of six feet from an infected person. This is far enough to be out of range of their sneezing or coughing (or otherwise producing respiratory droplets).

Avoid touching surfaces and items the infected person has touched. Whenever possible, avoid crowded places. Different time frames are found referenced about the length of time viruses can remain viable on surfaces outside a living host. For most environments, it is often quoted that they can "live" for 24 to 48 hours on nonporous environmental surfaces. They quote that they live less than 12 hours on porous surfaces, before becoming inert. (see related questions below)

Like the seasonal flu, H1N1/09 it is mainly transmitted person-to-person through direct skin-to-skin contact, or through the spread on respiratory droplets from coughing or sneezing by people infected with the influenza virus.

Are face or surgical masks helpful?

You can wear a "respirator" mask (a common type is known as N-95). These are worn on your face to filter the virus particles and prevent you from inhaling them. They must be fitted to your face according to specific medical fitting guidelines. They are not recommended for children or men with beards due to fitting difficulties which would allow the virus to enter around the sides of the N-95 mask. The plain surgical masks that are often seen being worn on the streets are not effective in filtering out the sub-microscopic virus. The virus will pass right through those masks or around the edges. The respirators can also be problematic for people with Asthma, or others with respiratory disease, since they make it be difficult for some to breathe through them.

The surgical type of face masks are most effective as a means to cover the mouth and nose of infected people so that, like using a tissue, their coughs or sneezes will contained. These may also be effective for others to prevent respiratory droplets from being inhaled, such as health care workers, caregivers, or parents within that very close proximity to the ill person. Droplets may directly infect those within three feet of the ill person if no mask is used.

All types of face masks and respirators should be used only once and then carefully disposed of in trash containers, washing hands afterward. Some masks become ineffective when damp or after a period of use, and may need to be changed to remain effective (see guidelines for use with each device).

There are some who believe that the influenza virus also poses a threat as an airborne particle under specific environmental conditions, and who recommend filtration and purification systems for use with HVAC systems in buildings and homes. (See the discussion section for more.) The necessity of these for use in non-clinical public settings, and residential settings is questioned by other researchers. WHO, CDC, and others do not specify use of these in their prevention recommendations.

Modes of Transmission

In an August 21, 2009 document on Swine Flu Infection Control Considerations from the Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota (see links section below), they stated:

"Influenza viruses potentially can be transmitted through droplet, contact, and airborne modes. Although existing data are limited regarding the contribution of each mode of transmission, a recent review concluded that influenza virus transmission occurs at close range rather than over long distances (see References: Brankston 2007)."

"Droplet transmission

• Influenza viruses are predominantly transmitted by large droplets (ie, >5 mcm).

• Droplets are expelled by coughing and sneezing and generally travel through the air no more than 3 feet from the infected person.

• Transmission via large droplets requires close contact between the source and recipient persons, permitting droplets, which do not remain suspended in the air, to come into direct contact with oral, nasal, or ocular mucosa.

• Special air handling and ventilation systems are not required to prevent droplet transmission."

"Airborne transmission

• Airborne transmission of influenza viruses (i.e., transmission via droplet nuclei [<5 mcm], which remain suspended in the air and have the potential to travel farther than several feet) has been suggested in several reports, although evidence to conclusively support airborne transmission of influenza virus is limited (see references, Bridges 2003)."

• Available data suggest that airborne transmission does not play a major role in the spread of influenza viruses. . .However, airborne transmission of influenza viruses may occur, at least over short distances, and further study is needed to determine the importance of this mode of transmission in healthcare or other settings.

• There is no evidence to date that droplet nuclei containing influenza viruses can travel through ventilation systems or across long distances, such as can occur with tuberculosis and certain other viral agents."

In a research paper, published in 2003 in the Chicago Journals, Transmission of Influenza: Implications for Control in Health Care Settings, by Carolyn Buxton Bridges, et al, (see link below) the following excerpts were found:

"Airborne transmission entails the production of infectious droplet nuclei, generally <5 μm in diameter, which, in contrast to droplets, can remain suspended in the air and be disseminated by air currents in a room or through a facility to be inhaled by a susceptible host. Preventing the spread of droplet nuclei requires the use of special air‐handling and ventilation procedures."

"Evidence exists to support the transmission of influenza viruses by direct and indirect contact and by droplet and droplet nuclei (i.e., airborne) transmission. However, experimental studies involving humans are limited, and the relative

contribution of each mode of transmission remains unclear. Furthermore, the relative importance of airborne transmission in a setting of normal air exchange is unknown."

Transmission of influenza A in Human Beings, by Gabrielle Brankston MHSc, et al, published in 2007 in The Lancet (see link below) gave further information about the airborne transmission of Influenza viruses. This excerpt is from that paper:

"Despite vast clinical experience in human beings, there continues to be much debate about how influenza is transmitted. We have done a systematic review of the English language experimental and epidemiological literature on this subject to better inform infection control planning efforts. We have found that the existing data are limited with respect to the identification of specific modes of transmission in the natural setting. However, we are able to conclude that transmission occurs at close range rather than over long distances, suggesting that airborne transmission, as traditionally defined, is unlikely to be of significance in most clinical settings. Further research is required to better define conditions under which the influenza virus may transmit via the airborne route."

For more information on how to protect yourself from microbes and influenza, such as the A-H1N1/09 swine flu virus, see the related questions below.

Answer 2

There is always a possibility it could mutate. However, currently it is not airborne (an example of airborne would be small pox in which the disease can be spread simply by floating through the air.)

At this point (4/29/09) it is passed via droplets. This would be when someone sneezes or coughs, or touches after sneezing or coughing (or by someone touching an item or person after sneezing or coughing, or touching the germs on an item). Droplets (from sneeze or cough) generally land within three feet of the carrier, they do not float through the air, they are propelled or passed via touch.

Unlike droplets, airborne diseases literally can float through the air (for example see small pox).

Answer 3

Some people claim that H1N1 is not airborne.
But a(H1N1) IS AN AIRBORNE VIRUS.
It can be spread via direct contact, but it is also airborne.

ID1255644782, don't be a fear mongerer.

Answer 4

No, not in the medical use and context of the word airborne. Most of the indications in clinical settings suggest that it is not significantly "airborne".

The term "airborne infectious disease" in medical terminology refers to microbes or viruses that can float and stay in the air and are able to be transmitted from person to person carried by air currents and breezes. By that definition, influenza is notairborne.

However, it can be in the air and able to be inhaled for short time periods when carried on respiratory droplets from coughs and sneezes. These are heavier than true airborne particles and will fairly quickly fall to the ground or onto surfaces (or people) in only the immediate area of the source. These droplets fall from the air in a matter of seconds and are moved by the force of the cough or sneeze an approximate distance of a six foot diameter around the source.

The guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Health Service (NHS) in the UK, and other infectious disease control and research organizations, for prevention of the spread of seasonal influenza, include much more information concerned with the virus being spread by direct contact (e.g., on the hands) and from respiratory droplets, instead of by a truly "airborne" route.

Coughing and sneezing by an infected person are the most common sources of the spread of influenza on respiratory droplets. They fall to the floor or other surfaces and then can be easily picked up on hands and then from there transferred to another person or yourself (when the viruses from the surface come in contact with mucous membrane tissue in the nose, mouth, or eyes).

Prevention:

For the most effective protection against a direct transmission, it is recommended that you use good hygiene, and especially hand washing (or use hand sanitizers that are minimally 60% alcohol according to the product directions for use). In addition, the agencies mentioned above recommend that you maintain a distance of six feet from an infected person. This is far enough to be out of range of their sneezing or coughing (or otherwise releasing respiratory droplets which hold the viruses).

Avoid touching surfaces and items the infected person has touched. Whenever possible, avoid crowded places. Different time frames are found referenced about the length of time viruses can remain viable on surfaces outside a living host. For most environments, it is often quoted that they can "live" for 24 to 48 hours on nonporous environmental surfaces. They quote that they live less than 12 hours on porous surfaces, before becoming inert.

The flu is mainly transmitted person-to-person through direct skin-to-skin contact, or through the spread on respiratory droplets from coughing or sneezing by people infected with the influenza virus.

There are some who believe that the influenza virus also poses a threat as an airborne particle under specific environmental conditions, and who recommend filtration and purification systems for use with HVAC systems in buildings and homes. (See the discussion section for more.) The necessity of these for use in non-clinical public settings, and residential settings is questioned by other researchers. WHO, CDC, and others do not specify use of these in their prevention recommendations. There is some information indicating that adding humidity to the air can help, since flu viruses prefer a low absolute humidity (this is why the flu has a season, for more see related questions).

Modes of Transmission

In an August 21, 2009 document on Swine Flu Infection Control Considerations from the Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy (CID (see links section below), they stated:

"Influenza viruses potentially can be transmitted through droplet, contact, and 'airborne' modes. Although existing data are limited regarding the contribution of each mode of transmission, a recent review concluded that influenza virus transmission occurs at close range rather than over long distances (see References: Brankston 2007)."

"Droplet transmission

* Influenza viruses are predominantly transmitted by large droplets (ie, >5 mcm).

* Droplets are expelled by coughing and sneezing and generally travel through the air no more than 3 feet from the infected person.

* Transmission via large droplets requires close contact between the source and recipient persons, permitting droplets, which do not remain suspended in the air, to come into direct contact with oral, nasal, or ocular mucosa. * Special air handling and ventilation systems are not required to prevent droplet transmission."

"Airborne transmission

* Airborne transmission of influenza viruses (i.e., transmission via droplet nuclei [<5 mcm], which remain suspended in the air and have the potential to travel farther than several feet) has been suggested in several reports, although evidence to conclusively support airborne transmission of influenza virus is limited (see references, Bridges 2003)." * Available data suggest that airborne transmission does not play a major role in the spread of influenza viruses. However, airborne transmission of influenza viruses may occur, at least over short distances, and further study is needed to determine the importance of this mode of transmission in healthcare or other settings. * There is no evidence to date that droplet nuclei containing influenza viruses can travel through ventilation systems or across long distances, such as can occur with tuberculosis and certain other viral agents."

In a research paper, published in 2003 in the Chicago Journals, Transmission of Influenza: Implications for Control in Health Care Settings, by Carolyn Buxton Bridges, et al, the following excerpts were found:

"Airborne transmission entails the production of infectious droplet nuclei, generally <5 μm in diameter, which, in contrast to droplets, can remain suspended in the air and be disseminated by air currents in a room or through a facility to be inhaled by a susceptible host. Preventing the spread of droplet nuclei requires the use of special air‐handling and ventilation procedures."

"Evidence exists to support the transmission of influenza viruses by direct and indirect contact and by droplet and droplet nuclei (i.e., airborne) transmission. However, experimental studies involving humans are limited, and the relative

contribution of each mode of transmission remains unclear. Furthermore, the relative importance of airborne transmission in a setting of normal air exchange is unknown."

Transmission of influenza A in Human Beings, by Gabrielle Brankston MHSc, et al, published in 2007 in The Lancet gave further information about the airborne transmission of Influenza viruses. This excerpt is from that paper:

"Despite vast clinical experience in human beings, there continues to be much debate about how influenza is transmitted. We have done a systematic review of the English language experimental and epidemiological literature on this subject to better inform infection control planning efforts. We have found that the existing data are limited with respect to the identification of specific modes of transmission in the natural setting. However, we are able to conclude that transmission occurs at close range rather than over long distances, suggesting that airborne transmission, as traditionally defined, is unlikely to be of significance in most clinical settings. Further research is required to better define conditions under which the influenza virus may transmit via the airborne route."

For more information on how to protect yourself from microbes and influenza, see the related questions below.

Answer 5

I think swine flu is contagous. People can catch it off other people so yeah it is contagous. Swine means pig. Improve if this is not true.

Answer 6

Yes, and very easily compared to other types of influenza viruses. See the related question below for information on how it is spread.

Answer 7

It is airborne after someone vomits or has diarrhea. Because it a virus, it can be on surfaces or in undercooked food.

Answer 8

H1N1 isn't an airborne.

Answer 9

YES