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The swine flu is back with a vengeance. Right now, a third of flu cases are some form of New Influenza A. What about this virus again, was it more serious than normal flu or not? The answers to the most frequently asked questions can be found here.
1. What is the swine flu?
The new virus contains parts of the well-known swine flu virus. It also contains parts of the bird flu virus and the human flu virus. New Influenza A (H1N1) therefore does not come directly from pigs. The virus is capable of spreading from person to person.
2. What are the symptoms of swine flu?
The ‘common’ flu in humans is a rapidly occurring respiratory illness caused by the influenza virus. The disease can range from very mild to very severe.
The most common symptoms of the flu are:
-
cough
- No appetite
- muscle strain
- a sore throat
- nausea
- diarrhea
- listlessness
- cold
- running nose
The reports about the current New Influenza A (H1N1) in humans are not unequivocal. In the sick in the United States and Canada, this flu seems no different or more serious than regular flu. In Mexico, a number of more serious illnesses and deaths are also reported.
3. How can the virus be transmitted?
The flu and cold viruses are contained in droplets of snot, mucus and saliva. The viruses are spread by talking, coughing or sneezing.
This mainly happens in areas where people sit close to each other and where there is poor ventilation. For example in trains, at schools or nurseries. Viruses are also transmitted through hands and objects.
4. How do you know if you just have the flu or if you have swine flu?
Influenza is an inflammation of the airways, i.e. throat, windpipe and/or lungs. Influenza is caused by an infection with the influenza virus type A or B. Swine flu is type A, hence the name New Influenza A.
The symptoms of the Mexican swine flu are the same as those of normal seasonal flu: fever, sniffling, coughing and possibly joint pain.
The RIVM (National Institute for Public Health and the Environment) advises people who have returned from the US or Mexico and who have a fever (38 degrees or higher) and flu symptoms, or develop them within 7 days, to contact their GP.
People who have been to other countries where the new flu is circulating and who have had contact with sick people should also report to their GP if they have these symptoms.
They are then analyzed for the presence of influenza virus type A (H1N1). In the case of swine flu, a virus inhibitor, such as Tamiflu, may be prescribed.
5. Can you get infected by eating pork?
New. There is no evidence that swine flu can be passed on by eating infected animals. It is completely safe to eat pork.
Left
- RIVM
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- www.h1n1-influenza.info
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H1N1
- www.cdc.gov/swineflu/
- Flu Tracker
What about the swine flu?
Swine flu, officially New Influenza A (H1N1), is a flu virus that caused a pandemic in 2009 and 2010. The virus belongs to a new strain of the H1N1 swine flu virus and originated in Mexico. Some other names are also used, including (new) influenza A (H1N1) and (especially in the first days after the outbreak) swine flu.
In retrospect, in both 2009 and 2010, despite the presence of the Mexican flu virus, it was a very mild flu season with the lowest number of flu deaths in years. Worldwide, between 250,000 and 500,000 people die each year from the ‘normal flu’.
The RIVM now considers the Mexican flu (New Influenza A (H1N1)) to be ‘normal flu’, because of its relatively mild course. The victims of swine flu are usually the elderly, very young children and people in poor health. The disease is therefore no more dangerous than the seasonal flu, but the virus can penetrate deeper into the respiratory tract. This may increase the risk of pneumonia.
More information about the flu can be found in our flu special.
