By: Teaira Allen & Ashley Davis

What is swine flu?

• “swine flu (an acute and highly contagious respiratory disease of swine caused by the orthomyxovirus thought to be the same virus that caused the 1918 influenza pandemic)”

What is swine flu?

• A respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza virus,

• Causes high rates of illness and low rates of death in pigs,

• Most out breaks happen during the fall and winter

• The swine flu (A influenza N1H1 flu) was first isolated from pigs in 1930.

Definitions:

• Antigenic drift- means by which flu viruses constantly reshuffle their composition

• Pandemic- Threw human populations over a large region or worldwide.

• H1N1- Novel influenza A virus called swine flu- a new strain

Where is swine flu at?

• Swine flu has reached 74 countries and has infected nearly 29,000 people.

• Some countries infected is Europe, Chile, Australia, Japan, and the United States.

Origin

• Believe to have started in Veracruz, Mexico or the town of La Gloria.

• Spread to the US and other countries.

• First case was in February, First case in the United States was in late March.

• 1st death was in the United States of May 20, 2009

Causes:

• Originally started with pigs passed to humans- probably working with pigs then human to human.

• Pigs- unsanitary conditions, poverty and public health laws don’t help to prevent it or contain it to a country or community

Causes:

• With travel- flying- easy to spread quickly to people, usually isn’t passed to humans not transmitted by eating pork.

Symptoms:

Some Symptoms are:• Chills,

• Vomiting,• Runny nose,

• Fever over 100 degrees,• Diarrhea,

• Muscle aches

YOUR BASIC COMMAN FLU SYMPTOMS!!!

Complications:

• Pneumonia,

• Bronchitis,

• Sinus infections,

• Ear infections,

• DEATH!

What we are doing to make sure it does not spread:

• June 11, 2009 World Health Organization (who) raised pandemic alert level to Phase 6- indicates worldwide,

• Airline passengers screened to be sure they are not sick,

• Harder on elderly, pregnant women, young children, or those with asthma, diabetes, heart disease may cause death.

Treatment:

• Keep informed

• Everyday actions- wash your hands often with soap & water use hand cleaners

• Cover mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.

• Avoid touching eyes, nose, mouth to not spread germs.

Treatment:

• Stay home if sick,

• Follow public health guidelines when schools or businesses close,

• Avoid crowds,

• Deal with stress and anxiety,

• Avoid kissing or touching someone who is sick

Research:

• Developing a vaccine,

• Planning how to vaccinate large groups of people- schools, etc.

• Make available for everybody,

• Pilot programs- testing to see if will need 1 or 2 doses of vaccine.

References:

1. www.energybullentin.net/node/48801

2. www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/

3. Http://diseases-viruses.suite101.com

4. www.msnbc.msn.com

5. www.top-buzz.net

6. wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=swine%20flu

7. The Denver Post, July 11,2009 Obesity may be factor in swine-flu severity