What is the difference between Swine Flu and pandemic flu?

Answer 1

Swine Flu and Human Seasonal Flu

Human Influenza (flu) refers to one of the three major types of flus (Influenza Type A, B, or C) that are endemic to the human population (orthomyxoviridae). Most seasonal flu would fit into this category of human to human transferable viruses. Swine Flu was originally a flu in pigs that mutated to one that could be given to humans. When humans get diseases from animals it is called Zoonosis or a zoonotic disease.

Similarities and Differences

H1N1/09 symptoms are much like the symptoms of other types of flu, however there have been higher rates of vomiting and diarrhea in the beginning stages of the pandemic flu compared to the seasonal flu. See the related questions below for more information about the symptoms.

Human-to-human transmission of swine flu (A-H1N1/09) is thought to be spread in the same way as seasonal flu -- through coughing/sneezing/close contact, and is highly contagious.

With Novel H1N1 (2009 Swine Flu), the symptoms progress rapidly, and as early as within five days of symptom onset, it is possible to have the severe respiratory symptoms that progress to pneumonia or other life-threatening complications requiring hospital care.

Swine flu symptoms for many people have been milder than those with seasonal flu. According to current statistics, more people die each year of seasonal flu, than have with swine flu.

Unlike seasonal flu, those over age 65 are not at high risk of catching and having serious complications with Novel Swine flu A-H1N1/09. This may be the result of residual immunity from some similar flu in the past to which those in this age group were exposed.

See the related questions below for more information.

Answer 2

Currently (2009) they mean the same thing. The swine flu (A-H1N1/09) is the virus that is causing the Pandemic. Any flu can be called a pandemic flu, if it is spreading to all parts of the world and meets the other characteristics of a fast moving, wide spreading epidemic.

Answer 3

In the US, they are made exactly the same with all the same ingredients, except the seasonal flu vaccine contains a combination of three dead or weakened strains of influenza that are common seasonal flu varieties and that are predicted to be the ones that will spread to the US during the 2009-2010 flu season, while the swine flu vaccine contains only the dead or weakened strain of swine flu A-H1N1 that was chosen to match the strain that is currently circulating in the pandemic. The virus particles in the vaccines are inactivated or made weak with chemicals so that they can not make you sick from taking the vaccine.

Answer 4

Assuming you are asking what is the difference between swine flu and tami flu, then the answer is that swine flu is a "nickname" for the A-H1N1/09 influenza virus that caused the 2009 flu pandemic, and Tamiflu is the brand name of a medicine that is given as an anti-viral for people who have symptoms of influenza. The generic drug name for Tamiflu is Oseltamivir Phosphate and it can shorten the duration and severity of flu symptoms when taken within 40 - 48 hours of the first symptoms of the flu.

On the humorous side:

A swine is a pig, it is just another name for pigs and hogs. Tami flu was recently discovered to be a new flu that is believed to have been what caused Tammy Faye Bakker's eyes to water so often and smudge her eye make up (see photo in link below) in the 1980's.

Answer 5

Common flu, or influenza, is caused by orthomyxoviridae, a family of influenza viruses. Influenzavirus A, B, and C cause viruses in vertebrates (humans and other animals with a spine and hard skeleton). Isavirus causes influenza only in salmon. Thogotoviruses infect both vertebrates and invertebrates. Different subtypes of viruses can cause influenza in horses, dogs, cats, and many other mammals.

Swine flu (aka pig flu, hog flu), is the common name of H1N1 viruses, typically two strains that infect primarily pigs, but that have crossed over to also infect birds and humans, if they are in close contact with the infected swine, such as farm workers, although it is not common in humans. Some outbreaks, epidemics and pandemics from the past that involved H1N1 viruses are:

• 1918 world wide pandemic ("Spanish Flu") in people.
• 5 February 1976 Ft. Dix, New Jersey several soldiers were infected.
• September 1988, Walworth County, Wisconsin.
• 1998 - four US states, outbreaks among swine only.
• 20 August 2007 - Nueva Ecija and Luzon, Philippines.
• November 2009 - 14 deaths reported in Northern Ireland

Another subtype of H1N1 is the pandemic Swine Flu of 2009, H1N1/09, which was also commonly called "swine flu". This is a flu virus that contains genetic material from humans, from two types of pig flu, and from birds. These are mutated forms of H1N1 that combined in pigs and then began infecting humans as a new type of flu in 2009 (see the related question below about what caused this quad-reassortant that produced the new flu virus).

Swine flu viruses are all subtypes of H1N1. In some countries these are referred to as S-OIV (Swine-Origin Influenza Virus - sometimes also Swine- Originated Influenza Virus) or SIV (Swine Influenza Virus). See also the related question in the related questions section about other names for swine flu.

"Stomach flu" is not a true form of influenza (which is only a respiratory disease). It is medically known as viral gastroenteritis and is an inflammation caused by a viral infection of the gastrointestinal tract. It appears more often in children and is most often caused by rotavirus (different and not related to the influenza viruses). The condition in adults is most often caused by norovirus (sometimes also known as Norwalk Flu). Viral gastroenteritis is typically caused only by direct contact with those infected, often by sharing food or drink.

Note: Gastroenteritis can also be caused by bacteria, such as Campylobacter, one of the more common bacteria involved in foodborne disease. This is called bacterial gastroenteritis. This bacteria is also a cause of gastric ulcer disease.

Bacterial gastroenteritis can be contracted by drinking or eating contaminated foods.

Influenza is spread by direct contact with an infected person or with their respiratory droplets, which are expelled when they cough or sneeze, and which contain the shed virus particles. It can also be contracted from touching the surfaces on which the droplets have landed (usually only as far as a six foot diameter from the sneezing or coughing individual) and then touching your nose, mouth, or eyes transferring the virus to the mucous tissues from your hands (another reason to wash hands frequently - see the related questions). It is not a true "airborne" disease by the medical definitions, but can remain in the air for a very short period while contained in the respiratory droplets before dropping to the floor or nearby surfaces after expelled. True airborne pathogens can float on air currents for longer distances.

Answer 6

"Tamiflu" is an antiviral drug being used to treat Swine Flu.