SWINE FLU - Pandemic Preparedness Is the Key To Survival

2009 H1N1 influenza (swine flu)

SWINE FLU is an infectious respiratory disease caused by a type A influenza virus.

Swine flu normally occurs in pigs, where it circulates year round with a peak of activity in Autumn and Winter. Although pigs can pass the virus to humans, human-to-human transmission has never been reported. Yet, swine flu has already infected more than 414,000 people and caused nearly 5,000 deaths, worldwide, which clearly shows that it can spread among people.

Why people?

So, what happened? The virus that causes swine flu in pigs is different from the one responsible for the current flu outbreak in people. The latter is called 2009 H1N1, and is a brand new version of H1N1, one of the viruses that normally cause seasonal flu, and the one responsible for the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918.

Scientists think that the 2009 H1N1 flu virus may have originated in Mexico, in pigs infected with different types of flu viruses – human, avian and swine – at the same time. This has made it possible for the viruses to swap their genes and create a new HIN1 flu virus capable of spreading among people.

Global flu pandemic

The 2009 H1N1 flu virus has one crucial characteristic: it can be transmitted from person to person in a sustainable manner. This means it can spread beyond three individuals. In other words, the flu virus can be passed from person A to person B and, then, person C.

Why is this important? Because sustained transmission is a prerequisite for a flupandemic to occur. It means that the H1N1 flu virus has the potential to affect millions of people worldwide almost simultaneously, which is why the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the current swine flu outbreak in humans a global flu pandemic.

Time to think about preparedness

What this means to you, your family... all of us... is that it’s time to start thinking about being prepared to cope with the situation. Especially now that the number of cases of swine flu has started rising again, and swine flu deaths are climbing.

You need to act now, to make sure you know how to avoid infection, recognize the symptoms of swine flu, protect your children, and get better if you become ill. You need to keep up to date with the latest about the swine flu shot. And be prepared about what to do to make your home safe, and be self sufficient and financially secure during this pandemic.

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