SWINE FLU

Pranil Rajendra Shivarkar

12th E. Roll no. 405
Swine Flu
INTRODUCTION

• Swine flu was first recognised in the 1919 pandemic and still circulates as a
seasonal flu virus. Swine flu is caused by the H1N1 virus strain, which started in
pigs.
• Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, chills, weakness and body aches.
Children, pregnant women and the elderly are at risk from severe infection.
• Typical treatment includes rest, pain relievers and fluids. In some cases antiviral
medication and IV fluids may be required.
• Extremely rare
• Fewer than 5 thousand cases per year (India)
• Preventable by vaccine
• Treatable by a medical professional
• Spreads easily
• Requires a medical diagnosis
• Lab tests or imaging always required
• Medium-term: resolves within months
 VIROLOGY

• Influenza is quite common in pigs, with about half of breeding pigs having been exposed to the virus in the US.Antibodies to the virus are also
common in pigs in other countries. The main route of transmission is through direct contact between infected and uninfected animals. These close
contacts are particularly common during animal transport intensive farming. may also increase the risk of transmission, as the pigs are raised in
very close proximity to each other.The direct transfer of the virus probably occurs either by pigs touching noses, or through dried mucus.
Airborne transmission through the aerosols produced by pigs coughing or sneezing are also an important means of infection. The virus usually
spreads quickly through a herd, infecting all the pigs within just a few days.Transmission may also occur through wild animals, such as wild boar,
which can spread the disease between farms.
• How it spreads
• By airborne respiratory droplets (coughs or sneezes).
• By skin-to-skin contact (handshakes or hugs).
• By saliva (kissing or shared drinks).
• By touching a contaminated surface (blanket or doorknob).
SYMPTOMS

• Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, chills, weakness and body aches.
Children, pregnant women and the elderly are at risk from severe infection.
• People may experience:
• Pain areas: in the muscles
• Cough: can be dry
• Whole body: fever, high fever, or malaise
• Nasal: runny nose or sneezing
• Also common: headache or sore throat
DIAGNOSIS

• The CDC recommends real-time PCR as the method of choice for diagnosing H1N1. The oral or nasal fluid collection
and RNA virus preserving filter paper card is commercially available. This method allows a specific diagnosis of
novel influenza (H1N1) as opposed to seasonal influenza . Near-patient point-of cure tests are in development.
 TREATMENT

• If a person becomes sick with swine flu, antiviral drugs can make the illness milder and make the patient feel better faster. They may also
prevent serious flu complications. For treatment, antiviral drugs work best if started soon after getting sick (within two days of symptoms).
Beside antivirals, supportive care at home or in a hospital focuses on controlling fevers, relieving pain and maintaining fluid balance, as well as
identifying and treating any secondary infections or other medical problems. The U.S. Centre for Disease control and Prevention recommends
the use of oseltamivir (Tamiflu) or zanamavir (Relenza) for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with swine influenza viruses; however,
the majority of people infected with the virus make a full recovery without requiring medical attention or antiviral drugs.The virus isolated in
the 2009 outbreak have been found resistant to amantadine and remantadine
• In the U.S., on April 27, 2009, the FDA issued Emergency use of Authorizations to make
available Relenza and Tamifluantiviral drugs to treat the swine influenza virus in cases for which they are
currently unapproved. The agency issued these EUAs to allow treatment of patients younger than the current
approval allows and to allow the widespread distribution
 PREVENTION

• Prevention of human-to-human transmissionInfluenza spreads between humans

when infected people cough or sneeze, then other people breathe in the virus or touch
something with the virus on it and then touch their own face. ‘‘’Avoid touching your eyes, nose
or mouth. Germs spread this way."Swine flu cannot be spread by pork products, since the
virus is not transmitted through food.The swine flu in humans is most contagious during the
first five days of the illness, although some people, most commonly children, can remain
contagious for up to ten days. Diagnosis can be made by sending a specimen, collected during
the first five days, for analysis.
 • Vaccination

• Vaccines are available for different kinds of swine flu. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
approved the new swine flu vaccine for use in the United States on September 15, 2009.Studies by
the National institute of health show a single dose creates enough antibodies to protect against the
virus within about 10 days..

• In the aftermath of the 2009 pandemic, several studies were conducted to see who received influenza vaccines.
These studies show that whites are much more likely to be vaccinated for seasonal influenza and for the H1N1
Surveillance strain than African Americans This could be due to several factors. Historically, there has been mistrust of
vaccines and of the medical community from African Americans. Many African Americans do not believe
Although there is no formal national surveillance system in the
vaccines or doctors to be effective. This mistrust stems from the exploitation of the African American
United States to determine what viruses are circulating in pigs, an
communities during studies like the Tuskegee study. Additionally, vaccines are typically administered in
informal surveillance network in the United States is part of a world
clinics, hospitals, or doctor’s offices. Many people of lower socioeconomic status are less likely to receive
surveillance network.
vaccinations because they do not have health insurance.
 ACTIVITY

• Total deaths by swine flu

• The study, co-authored by 9 members of the CDC Influenza Division, used an
improved modeling approach which resulted in an estimated range of deaths from
between 151,700 and 575,400 people who perished worldwide from 2009 H1N1
virus infection during the first year the virus circulated.
REFERENCES

• https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swine_influenza
• http://www.emedicinehealth.com/script/main/mobileart-
emh.asp?articlekey=99715#what_is_swine_flu_history_and
_overview
• Collins dictionary