How to Tell If You Have Swine Flu
History is full of diseases and illnesses that have taken the turn for the worst, and swine flu is no exception. Very recently, the outbreak of swine flu in Mexico and the United States, and now even more countries, has triggered the warning bells for the rest of the world. Here are ways to detect if you have been infected with the potentially lethal swine flu virus.
What Is Swine Influenza?
Swine influenza is caused by strains of the influenza virus that affect pigs, including H1N1 and H3N2 influenza viruses. Pigs that contract swine flu suffer from similar symptoms as human influenza:
swine flu
Coughing or barking
Runny, mucous discharge from the snout
Sneezing and other breathing problems and difficulties
The infected animal goes off feed
Pigs contract swine flu from other infected swine, particularly in pigpens and herding areas. Flu viruses from birds and people may also infect pigs and cause swine flu. Swine influenza passes quickly among pigs, and can cause major losses for pig farmers because of the rate of illness.
Signs and Symptoms of Swine Flu
The swine flu outbreak of 2009 is caused by a mutated form of the swine influenza virus that can be transmitted through human contact. The H1N1 strain of swine influenza has been known to be transmitted to humans, and intimate contact like sneezing or kissing can transfer the virus between people. Like most forms of influenza, swine flu among humans is highly contagious. The person harboring the swine flu virus may be contagious for up to seven days from the onset of the illness.
Here are some common signs and symptoms of swine flu among human beings:
High fever (above 37 degrees Celsius)
Sore throat, sneezing, and a runny nose
Coughing and other breathing difficulties
Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
Loss of appetite, drowsiness, and sleepiness.
See a Doctor
The World Health Organization (WHO) raised the pandemic alert level to 5 on April 29, 2009 after 2,400 possible cases of swine flu had been reported in countries like Spain, the United Kingdom, Canada, and New Zealand. In Mexico, 149 deaths have been attributed to swine flu, with the numbers rising every day. Agencies and governments all over the world are concerned that the outbreak of swine flu this year may cause a global epidemic.
It’s best to see a doctor if you have any symptom of flu; he or she may prescribe prophylactic medication to get rid of the flu virus. If you do exhibit symptoms of swine flu, you may be confined to a safe and isolated quarters in the hospital to prevent you from spreading the disease to other people.
Swine flu is a cause for alarm for many countries because it signifies a very real threat to public health. With these tips, you can get to know if those sniffles and fever chills you get today are a possible case of swine influenza.