Swine Flu (H1N1/09)

Attenuated simply means "weakened". An attenuated flu vaccine refers to vaccines made with live viruses (so you get a good immune response), but they have been weakened chemically so that they are unable to give you the flu.

There are two types of flu vaccines available in the US. What is called inactivated, inactive or "dead" vaccine and what is called "live", weakened/attenuated vaccine. The injectable vaccines (intradermal and intramuscular) are made with "dead" viruses and the nasal spray is made with "live" attenuated viruses.

There are two confirmed deaths. One was a child visiting a Texas family from Mexico. The other was a 33 year old female, whom recently went through childbirth.

Swine Flu (and other H1N1 flu viruses) is a Type A influenza, but all Type A influenza viruses are not swine flu, or other H1N1 viruses. Swine flu is just one of many subtypes of Type A influenza. Swine Flu is caused by the Type A H1N1/09 Virus.

Influenza is a highly infectious disease, even when the patient is recovering (unlike many other Infectious Diseases which quit being infectious when the patient begins to recover).

Not usually, however sometimes steroids like prednisone are given when other treatment is not working and inflammation is adding to the problem with the infection. This happens more often with bacterial infections than viral infections like the flu, however, for those hospitalized with serious cases and complications of swine flu, IV steroids were often prescribed. They are also used when there is poor response to treatment of secondary bacterial infections in those with current or recent flu infections. It would be unlikely to be used in mild cases of flu or in infections like the common cold.

Yes, the A-H1N1/09 pandemic swine flu is called a pandemic because it is a very contagious strain of virus and has spread all over the world rapidly since it started in late March 2009.

It has been estimated by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that world wide during the approximate six month period from from April to mid October 2009, there have been probably 22 million people who have had A-H1N1/09 swine flu, and maybe as many as 34 million.

Yes, there are outbreaks of the flu each year in schools across the world in flu season. A type of "swine flu", the viral infection (caused by H1N1/09) that was spread all over the world as a pandemic in 2009, was prevalent in schools in all locations, even causing many schools and day care centers around the world to close due to the rapid spreading. Any location such as churches and schools where people were in close contact, or other public locations where coughs, sneezes and many people's hands touching many things to spread the disease on surfaces and shared items, allowed the spread to continue more rapidly and widely. Many schools in different countries were closed due to so many cases in students and teachers spreading rapidly through the school locations with no alternatives to help contain the spread except temporary school closures. See the related question for how the swine flu spread.

As long as you have no underlying health problems, swine flu should come and go like any other strain of flu. The difference with swine flu is it attackes your respiritory system so those with asthma, heart/lung problems, weight issues, the elderly and the young are more vunerable, although the chance of death is still very minimal.

It doesn't matter, Vaccinations won't affect the chances of you getting pregnant.

It depends on the vaccine. Generally, at least a month. For Rubella, you have to wait three months after its administration before you can try to conceive. That's why it's so important to have a pre-conception visit at least three months before planning to get pregnant. (You don't have that luxury with "oops" babies, of course.) You can find out then if you need to update vaccines, start a multi-vitamin and folic acid, and address any routine medical issues. It's also a good idea to get a basic blood workup before trying to conceive to test for thyroid problems, hormone imbalances, etc. Most of those things are automatically included in a pre-conception visit.

Usually if you haven't had one by February in the Northern Hemisphere, there is no point, since the time it takes for the shot to work to protect you will likely take you beyond the most active parts of flu season (typically October to March).

It will not hurt to have one later than that, it will still protect you from the flu that the vaccines in the shot are made for if that flu comes around again in another season. Ask the pharmacist how long they will have vaccine available for the 2010-2011 season. (Walgreen's is cheaper than most places in the US these days at under $20 ~ no affiliation, just a helpful tip.)

The answer would have to be "almost always", if there is no fever or a low grade fever, the ill person will likely be immuno-compromised (have a disorder of the immune system) or they have a common cold virus instead of a flu virus. Symptoms can often be the same, except flu almost always involves high fever and a cold does not usually cause fevers over 101F.

March 11, 1918: An Army private at Fort Riley, Kansas reports to the camp hospital complaining of fever, sore throat, and headache. Before the day is over, over 100 soldiers fall sick. July 1918: Public health officials in Philadelphia issue a warning about what they call the "Spanish influenza". Aug. 27, 1918: Sailors stationed aboard the Receiving Ship at Commonwealth Pier in Boston begin reporting to the sick bay with cold symptoms. Aug. 30, 1918: At least 60 sailors aboard the Receiving Ship fall sick. September 1918: Dr. Victor Vaughn, acting Surgeon General of the Army, receives urgent orders to proceed to Camp Devens near Boston. Once there, what Vaughn sees stuns him: "I saw hundreds of young stalwart men in uniform coming into the wards of the hospital. Every bed was full, yet others crowded in. The faces wore a bluish cast; a cough brought up the blood-stained sputum. In the morning, the dead bodies are stacked about the morgue like cordwood." That day, 63 men die of influenza. Sept. 5, 1918: The Massachusetts Department of Health informs local newspapers that they are dealing with an epidemic. A doctor with the Massachusetts State Health Department says, "unless precautions are taken the disease in all probability will spread to the civilian population of the city." Sept. 24, 1918: Edward Wagner, newly transplanted from Chicago, falls ill with the flu. This flies in the face of San Francisco public health officials who had played down the threat of the flu to the public. Sept. 28, 1918: 200,000 gather for a 4th Liberty Loan Drive in Philadelphia. Days after the parade, 635 new cases of influenza were reported. Within days, the city will be forced to admit that epidemic conditions exist. Churches, schools, and theaters are ordered closed, along with all other places of "public amusement." Oct. 2, 1918: By the point, the death toll in Boston is 202. The Liberty Bond parades are cancelled as well as all sporting events. The stock market goes on half-days. Oct. 3, 1918: The epidemic reaches Seattle, Washington, with 700 cases and one death at the University of Washington Naval Training Station. Oct. 6, 1918: Philadelphia records 289 influenza-related deaths in a single day. Oct. 7, 1918: New Mexico, which had remained largely untouched by the influenza, reports its first case. Oct. 11, 1918: Santa Fe, New Mexico reports its first flu-related death. Mid-Oct.: In a single day, 851 New Yorkers die. The death rate in Philly for the period of a single week is 700 times the average. The Chicago crime rate drops 43 percent. Oct. 19, 1918: In Philadelphia, Dr. C.Y. White announces he has developed a preventative vaccine. More than 10,000 complete series of inoculations are sent to the Philadelphia Board of Health. Oct. 29, 1918: Six-ply gauze masks become mandatory in Seattle. Oct. 30, 1918: Six-ply gauze masks become mandatory in the entire state of Washington. Oct. 31 1918: Because of the Influenza Pandemic that grips the nation, most Halloween celebrations are cancelled due to quarantines. One Illinois paper reports: "The ghost parties, masquerades and dances which have always been so popular at this time of the year, are as scarce as the corn and eggs, not because of Mr. Hoover, but because of Mr. Influenza. Many parties which have been planned for Friday and Saturday night have been postponed as the quarantine will not be lifted before next Monday. But not all of the Halloween spirit has been killed by the influenza. Crowds of boys and girls have been using ticktacks on the windows, tearing down gates and and beating the porches with planks , for the last three nights, and they are all prepared to be out tonight, so be not surprised if you hear mysterious noise tonight." End of October: October 1918 ends up being the deadliest month in the history of the United States, with 195,000 Americans succumbing to the influenza. Nov. 3, 1918: The News of the World prints some suggested flu precautions: "Wash inside nose with soap and water each night and morning; force yourself to sneeze night and morning, then breathe deeply; do not wear a muffler; take sharp walks regularly and walk home from work; eat plenty of porridge." Nov. 11, 1918: Armistice is announced and World War I comes to an end. Though much of the joy is weighed down by the epidemic, people around the world venture out into the streets for the first time in order to celebrate. Many go out without their masks for the first time, leading to a surge in influenza cases in many cities for weeks after the Armistice. Nov. 18, 1918: By this date, 5,000 have died in New Mexico. Celebrating the end of World War I, 30,000 San Franciscans take to the streets to celebrate. There was much dancing and singing. Everybody wore a face mask. Nov. 21, 1918: Sirens sound in San Francisco announcing that it is safe for everyone to remove their face masks. Dec. 1918: 5,000 new cases of influenza are reported in San Francisco. Jan. 1919: Schools reopen in Seattle. March 1919: This is the first month that no influenza deaths are reported in Seattle.

Since flu symptoms are very commmon to cold symptoms they can be easily confused. Sore throat, fatigue, cough,these are sypmtoms both share but are more likely signs of a common cold than the flu.

Initially the influenza viruses "hijack" the host's cells to turn them into virus making "factories". The virus enters the cell and changes the DNA of that cell to cause it to work for the virus instead of for your body. After the cell fills up with replicants of the virus, it splits open and releases them to in turn infect new cells and repeat the reproductive process in each of them. The host's cells that are used this way are killed in the process of releasing the virions (virus particles). This is called the Lytic Cycle. For a more in-depth explanation of that cycle, see the related questions below. For more information about the impacts of a viral infection on the body systems, see also the additional questions added in the related questions section.

There may be some ongoing cases in limited locations around the world, including in Nebraska. However, the specifics and counts of cases are no longer being tracked by CDC, WHO, the US states, and most other countries, now that the pandemic has been declared over. Influenza cases are monitored, but specific H1N1/09 counts (and the lab tests needed to isolate the specific virus to be able to count them correctly) aren't being done. Influenza cases in general are monitored, but statistics are not being kept for H1N1/09 cases separately from other influenza types for reporting any longer in the post pandemic phase.

It was originally transferred by sexual intercourse with pigs. Today it is known to be transferred by any sexual contact, including hugs.

The pandemic H1N1/09 virus was not discovered by one doctor, but was isolated and studied by a team of CDC scientists and WHO scientists along with the Mexican health authorities as a joint effort.

No, some people do not have fever with the H1N1/09 swine flu, although it is a common symptom. See the related question for more information about the symptoms of A-H1N1/09 Pandemic swine flu.

Yes, H1N1 (swine flu) originally infected humans through contact with infected pigs (hence the name swine flu). The newest swine flu (H1N1/09) is able to pass directly from human to human without an animal in the mix, but originally it was zoonotic. Around 60% of all human infectious pathogens are zoonotic.

The outer coating of the flu virus continually changes its shape. The flu vaccine uses a weak form of the virus with a similar shape to the most common types of flu. By the next year, a new type of flu is circulating. If you get a vaccine, it will be for a virus with a different shape. You will have the option of getting a vaccine for the new type of flu.

Since the beginning of the suspected and reported cases in late March 2009, there are now cases of the Novel H1N1 influenza in most corners of the world (late June 2009). For a list showing where the current reported and confirmed cases have been and where they are, see the related question below: "Which cities states or countries have deaths or cases of swine flu?".

The time line of the spread is now available from the World Health Organization (WHO) with an interactive map on their web pages that gives a very good representation of how the spread moved across the countries of the world in the pandemic, to which locations and how fast as of the current time period. The map requires a flash player to view. See the related link below to the WHO Interactive map.