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Yes, Swine Flu is caused by a microscopic organism, a virus. The same type of microorganism also causes the common cold, Viral "stomach flu" (gastroenteritis), and the seasonal flu that comes around each year, plus many others. Viruses aren't really alive like bacteria and other types of microorganisms, but it acts alive since it can reproduce by using genetic material from the host animal's cells.

See the related question below for information on the different types of microorgansims (microbes).

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Is swine flu H1N1 an antigenic shift or drift?

Swine flu H1N1 is considered an antigenic shift, as it resulted from a reassortment of genetic material from different influenza virus strains in animals. This led to the emergence of a new subtype that can infect humans.


Is influenza caused by birds?

The Avian "Bird" flu is passed to humans by birds and their saliva and feces. Other forms of influenza that humans can get are also mutations of viruses that birds have had, some are from pigs (like swine flu) and many are from a combination of various swine, human, other, and bird flu strains that "reassort" in a host animal. For more information about how a new strain of the flu can be created through reassortant, see the related question below about what caused the 2009 Swine flu.


If you do not have a spleen can you die from the flu virus the swine flu?

Anybody can potentially die from any flu, swine or otherwise. Those without a spleen are at a higher risk of developing chest infections (like pneunomia), but the spleen does not have anything to do with fighting any type of flu or whether you will die from it.


Is the flu caused by a bacterial or viral infection?

Influenza is caused by a virus. its straight up a virus...


What type of immune cells are in the Swine Flu?

None. Swine flu is an illness caused by the pathogen known now as swine flu virus, A-H1N1/09 influenza. The illness contains no immune cells, nor does the virus. Your body responds to the presence of the virus with an immune response that sends your own immune cells to the area of your body where the flu virus has invaded. It is your body's immune cells that enter the "fight" and eventually get rid of the virus by constructing the type of immune cells called antibodies that are a perfect fit to inactivate the specific virus so it can no longer cause cell damage and symptoms of the flu. Your body then remembers the antibodies that worked to inactivate the virus so it can use them in the future if you are ever exposed to that virus again.