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Swine Flu (H1N1/09)

The 2009 Pandemic Swine Flu, A-H1N1/09, the Type A influenza virus that was first identified in the early spring of 2009 in Mexico and then spread world wide to become a true Pandemic by June 2009. Different from other current seasonal strains of H1N1, and also not the same Swine Flu from prior epidemics or outbreaks (like in 1976), it is known by many different names in different places and settings, such as: H1N1, Novel H1N1, A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)v-like virus, la grippe porcine, The Mexican Flu, la epidemia, Schweinegrippe, and SOIV (Swine Origin Influenza Virus).

1,816 Questions

How many days does it take for swine flu to be cured?

The flu causes a fever, body aches, a headache, a dry cough, and a sore or dry throat. You will probably feel tired and less hungry than usual. The symptoms usually are the worst for the first 3 or 4 days. But it can take 1 to 2 weeks to get completely better.

See the related questions in the related question section below for more information about symptoms, course of the disease, and treatment.

How effective is the flu mist?

The seasonal flu shot is thought to be 70 - 90 % effective in prevention of the flu strains for which it is being given in otherwise healthy adults. It is slightly less effective for the very young or very old due to the immaturity of the young immune systems or the loss of function of some immune responses in the infirm or elderly. The variation for healthy adults is caused by how well (or not) the strain chosen to make the vaccine is matched to the actual strain of that flu that is in current circulation. The match between the flu vaccine and swine flu H1N1/09 is a very good match and it is projected to be over 90% effective, for example.

See the CDC Q&A on the subject in the related links section below.

How long does the flu virus last in the human body?

i think it is about like a week , then i think the virus goes away

Will Swine Flu become an epidemic?

Hopefully not and probably not.

Although not 100% of the scientists are in agreement, the back plague (or black death) has long been thought to have been the same as the Bubonic Plague which was bacterial, not viral like the swine flu (H1N1 virus). However, the pandemic potential is similar for both types of infectious diseases. There is the potential for a very serious and deadly viral or influenza pandemic that could equal the proportion of fatalities from the 1348 "Black Death".

However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on 5/4/09 that the preliminary evaluations of the death rates from confirmed cases of the 2009 Swine Flu epidemic indicate that it is not as deadly as first believed. But, as President Obama said, "We are not out of the woods yet." We should not let our guards down prematurely.

Because of historical pandemic experiences, we know that the current precautions should not be abandoned. We learned from the records of the 1918 Spanish Flu, which had a very high mortality rate, that the first wave of an epidemic may be a milder form of the virus than future waves. The Spanish Flu's most deadly phase was a second wave that struck in the fall following the first wave. Most flu epidemics do progress in waves of outbreaks, and the Swine Flu is expected to behave similarly. The second waves sometimes are milder than the first ones, but, as shown in the 1918 pandemic, that doesn't hold true in all historical examples.

As we continue to observe the precautions, monitor the outbreaks, and stay keenly aware of our individual responsibilities in controlling the spread, we can make a difference. The diligence of the public in using the information that has been provided to prevent and protect, should be a mitigating factor with the Swine Flu.

Additionally, there is anticipation that with continued focused work on developing a vaccine for the 2009 Swine Flu, there will be some prepared to use in the coming fall flu vaccination season, which would be good timing to prevent a lethal second wave.

One of the most encouraging developments for all future flu and viral infections, is a "cure" currently in animal trials. It, unlike current anti-viral medications, approaches the attack on the virus in a new way that can not only disable the specific strain of virus, but also prevent it from future mutations (the mutations can enable resistance to the treatment). Current anti-viral medications affect the chemical "keys" on the viruses' coats to prevent them from attaching to the host cells. The problem with that approach is that the virus can continue to mutate and change its protein coating to render the anti-viral medications ineffective. Instead of at the protein coating, the new approach attacks the virus at the stem, which is unable to mutate to a resistant version. The new drug is expected to work on the most deadly of current viral strains.**

The manufacturer of the new anti-viral treatment has announced that they hope to have the human trials completed and the medication in production in time for the next flu season, if all goes well in the current animal trials.

Continue to follow all advice of the CDC and World Health Organization (WHO) for preventing the spread of the 2009 Swine Flu virus. Stay aware of the updates and announcements from those organizations and the government entities.

**Unfortunately, at least the first product being developed is not expected to be effective against the rhino-virus (common cold). While it is anticipated by the manufacturer to be effective against our most deadly types of viruses, it is not being targeted to treat the rhino-viruses. We may continue to suffer future sniffles, for a while longer, but this can also be an advantage in keeping our immune systems "tuned" through battle with the more minor viral strains anyway. It seems we may be a few steps closer than ever to the cure for the common cold, though.

For information about how to prevent the spread of viral microbes, including the Swine flu, see the related questions and links below.

Is major sinus pain but no stuffy nose a symptom of Swine Flu?

Any of the cold or general flu symptoms can be a symptom of swine flu. It can be as mild as stuffy nose or serious enough to put you in bed for weeks. Generally speaking though, the swine flu is like any other flu, if not a little milder, you get a fever, a cough and a stuffy/runny nose and body aches and it comes on pretty quick. Sinus pain can follow a bout with a stuffy or runny nose. As always, if in doubt, check with your doctor.

How is swine flu caused?

It was caused by a particular strain of the influenza virus, just like any other flu. This particular strain A-H1N1/09 (aka: Influenza A, Novel H1N1 or 2009 Swine Flu virus) originated in pigs (swine) but has changed itself to be infective to humans.

Swine flu is a virus that originally infected only pigs and they spread it from one infected hog to other hogs the same way it spreads in people, by direct contact or by droplets holding the virus in the air after a pig coughed or sneezed. Because pigs are physiologically very similar to humans, when they have been living closely with humans, some microbes that can infect them are able to be changed or mutated into strains that people can catch. These types of diseases that we can get from animals are called zoonotic diseases.

Pigs contract swine flu from other infected swine, particularly in pigpens and herding areas. Flu viruses from birds and people may also infect pigs. Swine influenza passes quickly among pigs, and can cause major losses for pig farmers because of the rate of illness. It is now also possible for infected people to pass swine flu back to other pigs.

Usually viruses that infect one kind of animal do not often infect others. However, if the animals are kept very closely together, it is more likely that mutations can occur that allow new strains to develop with the ability to cross from one type of animal to another. Viruses can mutate very rapidly. Since they are non-living sub-microscopic organisms (microbes), and not actually living organisms (like bacteria and microscopic fungi), they can combine with the cells of host animals and change the genetic material in those host cells to reproduce themselves. Sometimes that assimilation can also change the makeup to a new strain of virus (sub-microscopic particle microbe) which is then replicated by the damaged cells as well.

This cross-family type of mutation is called a reassortant, or sometimes reassortment, of genetic material in viruses. It has happened in the past when ducks or other birds were kept very closely together with pigs. That is how the Avian (bird) flu became a problem for people. First bird flu was mutated to a strain that could be caught by the pigs they were closely around. Once infecting the pigs, other mutations occurred that allowed their bird flu-swine crossed viruses to mutate again to viruses that people who were in close contact with the pigs infected with the bird-swine virus could catch. This kind of "cross-contamination", through mutations of the viruses infecting the physiologically similar pigs, allows new strains to develop to which people have no inherited immunity (passed down from generation to generation) or prior exposure to a similar type that would have given them cross protection.

It is considered potentially more dangerous than other types of influenza because the human population has not experienced this particular kind of Swine flu before. Therefore, it is anticipated that there will be few people with any natural resistance to it, whereas most people usually have some resistance to other strains of influenza once they are 10 years old or older. As a result of the lack of resistance, it can spread more easily and perhaps produce more severe symptoms.

The 2009 Swine Flu was doubly difficult for us to create effective vaccines (which would help to teach our immune systems how to fight the virus). This is because the new strain of virus mutated within the pigs where it could first merge genetic materials of the bird viruses and swine viruses that the pigs had been exposed to and then it become infective to humans as well, from the additional close contact of pigs and humans who cared for them (triple reassortant). The reassortant process within the pigs combined the pig genetic material, the bird genetic material, and also human genetic material. The 2009 Pandemic Swine Flu virus (A-H1N1/09) contains genetic material that is from the bird flu as well as from three swine flu virus strains (Asian, American, and European), plus the human flu virus ("quintuple reassortant"). We would have had an easier time developing our vaccine for this flu virus if it had been formed from one or the other, and not with the five types of genetic material that it currently contains. As it is, we had to start "from scratch" to grow the right kind of virus to put into the vaccines.

The whole process of infections can also work back the other way. So now we humans can get swine flu from each other, from infected pigs, and we can give it to pigs who can infect each other. In other words, because aspects of human viral strains are incorporated into the animal viral strains using the pig as a "middle man", newer viruses are developed that are able to cross the animal family boundaries.

Over crowding, of people with each other and with pigs, and pigs with each other and with other animals, are the major reasons these "reassortant" viruses can occur.

Farmers who work with swine must use very clean techniques to avoid catching and transmitting the swine flu. The CDC has guidelines for people who have these jobs or spend time around hogs, such as showing them in breed competitions. See the links below.

As with any virus, very good hygiene, including thorough hand washing, is critical after contact or close proximity.

See the related questions for steps to take to avoid contracting this virus.






What birds did bird flu affect?

All known subtypes of influenza A viruses circulate among wild birds, which are the natural hosts for influenza A viruses. H5N1 a subtype of influenza A viruses affects bird population all over Asia.Infected birds shed viruses in saliva, nasal secretions and feces. H5N1 infection in man may be because of contact with infected poultry.

In Asia with H5N1 outbreaks must avoid poultry farms and any surface contaminated with feces from poultry. All birds can get flu.

How long should a child stay home after having the flu?

It is recommended that those with the flu or swine flu should stay home from work and school and out of public locations until they have gone a full 24 hours straight without fever (without taking fever reducers). The temperature should be measured with a thermometer often during that period.

What should you do if you had suspected Swine Flu and took Tamiflu but have come out in a rash?

You should always contact the ordering doctor or the pharmacist who filled your prescription whenever you are taking a new medication and you get a rash. It is advised that people should stop the medicine until they can speak to the medical or pharmaceutical professionals in case it is an allergic reaction to the medicine. Sometimes the A-H1N1/09 pandemic swine flu has caused rashes as a symptom, but since it could be the new medicine, better safe than sorry.

Can hand sanitizers kill yeast present on the hands?

No it doesn't,it kills 99.9% of germs,bt NOT mold....

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It actually depends on the type of hand sanitizer you use. Most hand sanitizers contain at least 60% Ethyl alcohol, which is more than enough to kill Mold.

Mold is a type of Fungi, and Alcohol's properties tend to "kill" everything.

-better to use rubbing alcohol

How long after the flu shot can you get the Swine Flu shot?

In the US for the 2010-2011 flu season, the vaccination will contain vaccines for the H1N1/09 Swine flu along with the other two flu viruses expected to be circulating. So only one flu shot will be necessary this time.

Why is there no effective vaccine against the flu?

Vaccines take months to make, so people have to guess which strains of flu are going to be active long in advance.

How does Swine Flu affect businesses?

Some of the types of businesses that have products or services that are in demand with an outbreak of a viral epidemic are:

# The surgical mask manufacturers # The waterless hand sanitizer makers.

# Laboratories doing the swabs for testing to determine what type of virus may be involved. # The more esoteric labs that do more sensitive and specific higher level testing. # The facial and toilet tissue companies. # The Sports drink industries. # Health Care Providers: doctors, hospitals, clinics, urgent care centers

# Disinfectant spray makers. # Cough medicine and analgesic pharmaceutical companies. # Anti-viral medication producers. # Question and Answer web services. # Disposable diaper makers.

Is the flu a protist?

No. The flu (influenza) is caused by a virus. See related questions below.

Is stiff neck a symptom of Swine Flu?

if it's aching, it could be. these are the symptons of swine flu: * headaches * bodyaches * vomiting * diarrhea (i can't spell it, ok?) * coughing * sneezing * runny nose * a high temperature (about 101F or 41C) Your stiff neck probably isn't a sign saying that you've got swine flu but if you've got the rest of the symptons, you could.

How many people died from flu so far in 2009?

There has been 4,773 deaths of the Swine Flu in the last 7 days.

yes that may be but a lot of people have survived it so dont worry and one of those people is me and i am fine so not everyone dies .

What has President Obama done about the Swine Flu outbreak?

It is unfortunate and somewhat ironic that Congress cut funds, originally proposed in the stimulus package by President Obama, which were targeted for pandemic preparedness (such as for the swine flu). They labeled this part of the package "Pork" and it was removed from the package. However, in March President Obama proposed and the Omnibus appropriations bill signed a law containing funding ($156 million) for pandemic influenza research.

The President is working closely with officials from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and other Federal departments. On Wednesday, the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee will hold a hearing on "Swine Flu: Coordinating the federal response." See the related links below for more information about the CDC response.

What kills the flu virus in your home?

CLEAN YOUR SURROUNDINGS TO GET RID OF FLU GERMS

DRINK HOT BEVERAGES TO RAISE BODY TEMPERATURE AND KILL THE VIRUS

TAKE IN VITAMIN C

DRINK EVEN MORE VITAMIN C

REST STAY SOMEWHAT ACTIVE

HYDRATE YOURSELF

Stay positive

What is in the H1N1 vacine?

For the 2012 -2013 Flu Season in the Northern Hemisphere, the H1N1 vaccine is included in the "regular" seasonal flu shot that is trivalent (contains vaccine for three different types of flu). The contents are for the most part the same as listed in the answer below. Also see the related links and related questions sections below for some additional in formation.

Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent Vaccine is formulated to contain 15 mcg HA per 0.5 mL dose of influenza A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)v-like virus.

The single-dose formulation is preservative-free; thimerosal, a mercury derivative, is not used in the manufacturing process for this formulation. The multi-dose formulation contains thimerosal, added as a preservative; each 0.5 mL dose contains 24.5 mcg of mercury.

A single 0.5 mL dose of Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent Vaccine contains sodium chloride (4.1 mg), monobasic sodium phosphate (80 mcg), dibasic sodium phosphate (300 mcg), monobasic potassium phosphate (20 mcg), potassium chloride (20 mcg), and calcium chloride (1.5 mcg). From the manufacturing process, each dose may also contain residual amounts of sodium taurodeoxycholate (≤ 10 ppm), ovalbumin (≤ 1 mcg), neomycin sulfate (≤ 0.2 picograms [pg]), polymyxin B (≤ 0.03 pg), and beta-propiolactone (< 25 nanograms).

The rubber tip cap and plunger used for the preservative-free, single-dose syringes and the rubber stoppers used for the multi-dose vial contain no latex.

What company makes Tamiflu?

Roche Holding AG is the parent company of F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Ltd. maker of the antiviral medication brand named Tamiflu.

Have any black people died of swine flu?

As of 22 May 2009 Harris county (Houston) Texas has reported 64 confirmed cases of Novel H1N1 Influenza and only one death. The death, however was the early death of the child from Mexico who was traveling in the Houston area when hospitalized and died. No Houston residents have been reported to have died of the "Swine Flu of 2009".