Swine Flu (H1N1/09)

Not in the US, unless you are in jail getting the shot. They will ask you questions, though.

YES. The 1918 flu pandemic killed over 20 million people worldwide.

Yes, definitely. It is recommended for pregnant women.

In the US:

The following excerpts from a September 3, 2009 guidance document from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are about 2009 H1N1 Influenza Vaccine and Pregnant Women:
Influenza vaccines have not been shown to cause harm to a pregnant woman or her baby. The seasonal flu shot (injection) is proven as safe and already recommended for pregnant women. The 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine will be made using the same processes and facilities that are used to make seasonal influenza vaccines.

It is important for a pregnant woman to receive the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine as well as a seasonal influenza vaccine. A pregnant woman who gets any type of flu is at risk for serious complications and hospitalization. Pregnant women who are otherwise healthy have been severely impacted by the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus (formerly called "novel H1N1 flu" or "swine flu"). In comparison to the general population, a greater proportion of pregnant women infected with the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus have been hospitalized. In addition, severe illness and death has occurred in pregnant women. Six percent of confirmed fatal 2009 H1N1 flu cases thus far have been in pregnant women while only about 1% of the general population is pregnant. While hand washing, staying away from ill people, and other steps can help to protect pregnant women from influenza, vaccination is the single best way to protect against the flu.

There are two types of flu vaccine. Pregnant women should get the "flu shot"- an inactivated vaccine (containing fragments of killed influenza virus) that is given with a needle, usually in the arm. The flu shot is approved for use in pregnant women. The other type of flu vaccine - nasal-spray flu vaccine (sometimes called LAIV for "live attenuated influenza vaccine)-is not currently approved for use in pregnant women. This vaccine is made with live, weakened flu viruses that do not cause the flu). LAIV (FluMist®) is approved for use in healthy* people 2-49 years of age who are not pregnant. In addition to protecting her from infection, infants less than 6 months old will not be able to be vaccinated so it is recommended that everyone who lives with or provides care for infants less than 6 months of age receive both the seasonal influenza vaccine and 2009 H1N1 influenza monovalent vaccine to provide protection for the infant.

One recent study conducted in Bangladesh, assessed the effectiveness of influenza immunization for mothers and their young infants. Inactivated influenza vaccine reduced proven influenza illness by 63% in infants up to 6 months of age. This study confirmed that maternal influenza immunization is a strategy with substantial benefits for both mothers and infants. There is no evidence that thimerosal (used as a preservative in vaccine packaged in multi-dose vials) is harmful to a pregnant woman or a fetus. However, because some women are concerned about exposure to preservatives during pregnancy, manufacturers will produce preservative-free seasonal and 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccines in single dose syringes for pregnant women and small children. CDC recommends that pregnant women may receive influenza vaccine with or without thimerosal.

People for whom the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine is recommended should receive it, even if they have had an influenza-like illness previously, unless they can be certain they had 2009 H1N1 influenza based on a laboratory test that can specifically detect 2009 H1N1 viruses. CDC recommends that persons who were tested for 2009 H1N1 influenza discuss this issue with a healthcare provider to see if the test they had was either an RT-PCR or a viral culture that showed 2009 H1N1 influenza. There is no harm in being vaccinated if you had 2009 H1N1 influenza in the past. Pregnant women are encouraged to get vaccinated against the seasonal strains of influenza in addition to the A-H1N1/09 vaccine. The two kinds of vaccine (seasonal flu and "Swine Flu") must both be taken for complete protection from both kinds of flu in the 2009-2010 flu season.

Always check with your obstetrician before taking any medications in pregnancy. Your doctor may also be planning on administering the vaccines to patients.

Note about H1N1 vaccines approved for use in the UK:

These vaccines are slightly different from the vaccines approved for use in the US for A-H1N1/09, but are still recommended by the NHS for pregnant women. The difference is mostly that they contain adjuvants in the UK. See the related question below about swine flu shot ingredients.

Soak garlic cloves in twice as much cider vinegar overnight. Then have a tablespoon in warm water three times a day. Don't drink it neat. Garlic is anti-viral, cider vinegar draws out these qualities from the garlic.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have predicted that 30 to 40% or more of the population could have swine flu before the pandemic is over.

Influenza generally has an incubation of 24 - 72 hours after exposure. Expect symptoms to present within that time frame.

Birds can catch H1N1/09 swine flu. However, if you mean can you get swine flu from eating chicken, then the answer is no. Normal cooking temperatures deactivate virus particles and they can not infect you after reaching those temperatures.

No, it is not good for dogs, just like it is not good for people. However, few dogs have been diagnosed with this type of flu, and those that were survived like most people who had that form of flu survived. Dogs get very similar symptoms as do humans: cough, runny nose and sneezing are usually the first signs.

Respiratory failure, which is often due to secondary pneumonia caused by either viral or bacterial pathogens. This condition usually requires invasive mechanical ventilation (a "vent") for them to continue to breathe.

It's the initials of two sugar proteins (their scientific names are hemagglutinin and neuramidinase) that sit on the surface of the virus and do its dirty work. There are 16 types of the H protein, numbered H1 through H16, and 9 types of the N protein, numbered N1 through N9. That makes 144 possible combinations of the virus, a constantly changing challenge for prevention or treatment. A new combination, H2N2, cause a brief swine flu epidemic in 1957. An H3N2 strain was the source of another epidemic in 1968. The bird flu virus that began in Southeast Asia a decade ago and has spread throughout the Old World is an H5N1 combination.

With an immune response.

When particles of a virus enter our body and are identified by the immune system as foreign "invaders", our bodies use the invaders, which are also called antigens/antibody generators, as a template to create matching antibodies. Antibodies (also called immunoglobulins) are sort of like a lock and key system that, when matched perfectly with the antigens, can "lock" or neutralize the antigens so they can no longer enter or damage our cells. To neutralize each different strain of organism, the antibodies must have the right pattern to match the characteristics of each antigen. A match will allow the antibodies and immune response to make a "lock" to fit those viruses. Our body remembers each new virus pattern that has caused an immune response in the past (either from getting an infection or from vaccinations), so that it can make those matching cells to protect us from that same specific flu strain (or strains that are very similar) in case it ever enters the body again in the future.

Our body has the ability to determine when a virus has invaded and, if it has a match to that strain of virus stored from a prior invasion, the immune response is generated and the immune system quickly makes up a lot of those attack cells (antibodies), that the body made and that worked in the past to destroy/neutralize the invading virus particles. If it is a new invading virus, usually our body can make cells that can match just right in a week to ten days. (It can sometimes do this even more quickly for bacteria and other microbes.)

It is during this time period, when our body is matching and making the attack cells to "kill" the invader, that we feel sick until our body finds the key pattern of cells that will match and lock that specific virus. Our immune system wastes no time in locking up the invading organism, because it knows already what antibodies will work. That is why, once we have had a flu virus like Swine Flu before, we won't get sick from it again. Our body will already know what cells to make and will send them out to destroy the invader even before it can make us feel sick.

The major cells affected by influenza viruses, including swine flu H1N1/09, are those in the respiratory system mucous tissues.

Our arms always become sore after receiving a flu shot. This will take three or four days to subside, if not call your doctor.

CASULES

Yes. In fact the way the H1N1 pandemic swine flu was formed by the mixing of a human flu virus, a bird flu virus and a swine flu virus in a pig. When two similar viruses that are infecting the same cell exchange genetic material this is known as reassortment. They go on to form a new virus.

We create a drug which specifies to kill a certain part of the virus, however the virus changes its forms. So, the drug ends up killing the virus's competitors, which allows it to thrive more. This makes the drug useless.

yes you can, H1N1 is just like the chicken pox, you can either get it really heavy or just a little cold or flu and most likely you wont get it again because you will be immune

For the best results, it is recommended that you not be ill when taking the flu shot. Take care of the cold, recover, and then get the shot. If you are noticeably ill, they may not give it to you.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a state of pandemic due to the H1N1/09 Swine Flu. As of late March 2010 the pandemic is still in effect and the spread of H1N1 continues in some areas of the globe. For current situation, see the related question below.

people/scientists havent found a cure assumably yet

Influenza viruses can survive on environmental surfaces and can infect a person for 2 to 8 hours after being deposited on the surface. If you frequently wash your hands for more than 20 seconds, and avoid touching your face, you may reduce your exposure.

Swine flu is a threat you can die from it. Wash and Sanitize your hands, cough the right way, don't touch your face, and keep your germs to your self do these things to prevent swine flu. So be careful