Swine influenza, or “swine flu” or “A/H1N1 pandemic virus”, is a highly contagious acute respiratory disease of pigs, caused by one of several swine influenza A viruses. Morbidity ends to be high and mortality low (1-4%). The virus is spread among pigs by aerosols, direct and indirect contact, and asymptomatic carrier pigs. Outbreaks in pigs occur year round, with an increased incidence in the fall and winter in temperate zones. Many countries routinely vaccinate swine populations against swine influenza. Swine influenza viruses are most commonly of the H1N1 subtype, but other subtypes are also circulating in pigs (e.g., H1N2, H3N1, H3N2). Pigs can also be infected with avian influenza viruses and human seasonal influenza viruses as well as swine influenza viruses. The H3N2 swine virus was thought to have been originally introduced into pigs by humans. Sometimes pigs can be infected with more than one virus type at a time, which can allow the genes from these viruses to mix. This can result in an influenza virus containing genes from a number of sources, called a “reassortant” virus. Although swine influenza viruses are normally species specific and only infect pigs, they do sometimes cross the species barrier to cause disease in humans.

Background :

• WHO (World Health Organization) has issued alerts against the developing situation regarding the outbreak of swine flu A(H1N1).
• This awareness presentation provides a brief snapshot of the alert, symptoms of Infection, preventive measures, travel tips and the need for exercising caution, considering the existing global scenario.
• Media reports indicate affected countries as Mexico, USA, Europe, Canada with reports of spreading across countries.
• This awareness presentation is supposed to serve ONLY as an aid to understand the various details of the swine influenza and NOT for communicating any panic situation at this point of time.
• There is a global fear on a possible human pandemic predicted by experts in the bio medical field considering the probability of infection in humans.