Just a few months of peace and we are at war again. This time against Swine Flu or Mexican Flu or North American Influenza. Just when we thought that we had seen enough of the viruses with the SARS and Bird Flu, comes the recent threat – Swine influenza! World Health Organization has raised the alarm declaring it as Pandemic of Phase 5 status. Cases of this disease were reported from various states of Mexico including Mexico City.

People are tensed, scared and worried too. To go by the recent reports, Swine flu has spread to some of the states in USA. Isolated cases have been reported in the states of California, Texas and Kansas. It does not end here, there’s more to it. Cases of swine flu in King County and two cases of swine flu in Washington State are reported which is off course no good news. However there have been no reports of swine flu in Seattle .

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Despite the widespread fear of swine influenza, majority of the people infected with this virus have had full recovery without the need for medical attention or antiviral drugs. Since there are myths surrounding swine flu it’s time to burst the bubble and know the facts:
What is swine flu?
Swine flu is a type A influenza virus which is found in pigs. Human infection is uncommon except for people who work and live close to pigs.

What is unusual about the present strain?
The new strain is a hybrid of swine, human and avian flu viruses. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – “it can spread from human to human but the level of virulence is not yet clear”.

What are the symptoms of Swine flu?
Symptoms are very similar to regular human flu such as fever and chills, a cough, sore throat, headaches, aching limbs, and general malaise. However, there are reports of swine flu also causing vomiting and diarrhea. Respiratory failure and Pneumonia is also a symptom which can cause death.

Are there warning signs in children?
Children having averse to drinking, trouble in breathing, lethargy not waking up or not interacting, being so irritable that the child does not want to be held, flu-like are prone to swine flu. These symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough or fever with a rash.

Are there any drugs to treat swine flu?
Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza) are the possible pharmaceutical drugs for cure of the disease and are effective in treating patients at an early stage . There is no vaccine for this flu.

Has the disease spread to the USA?
There have been cases in California, Texas, and Kansas, reported and tests are being carried out on students at a school in New York.

Equipped with the power of knowledge now off course we are ready too fight against swine influenza . After all, it is always easier to fight with a known enemy!