Swine Flu 101: The Break Down

What is the swine flu you might ask? Well the swine flu is a kind of flu that is very common in pigs or otherwise known as "swine." The swine flu has signs that are similar to the regular flu. Although it is rare for a human to have swine flu, it is feasible for a human to contract the swine flu when exposed to swine. In order for the swine flu to be transmitted from human to human, the strain has to be mutated in such a way that it can be basically transmitted among us humans.

That is why it is believed that the swine flu outbreak facing us in 2009 is due to a mutated strain of swine flu. The human kind of this flu is called swine flu because scientists have discovered that this strain of flu is similar to the swine flu often present in pigs. This flu has raised an alert by the World Health Organization to have a Phase four Pandemic Alert.

Signs of Swine Flu

How would you defend from this swine flu you might ask? Well the Centers for Disease Control and for Prevention have said that the drugs, Tamiflu, and Relenza, helps in the treatment and prevent of swine flu. But the most effective way of stopping the swine flu from spreading would be to wash your hands very often with a generous amount of soap. There's still no vaccines yet, but they are said to be in development and to be prepared by June 2009.

With this new strain of the swine flu, it can transmit from human to humans. It is said that this was a result of a mutation of the regular swine flu making it able to be contracted by humans. For now there is no vaccine out there yet, but in a few months they ought to have a vaccine prepared to be used. But medicines like Tamiflu and Relenza are effective at counteracting this flu if taken initially.

The swine flu as they call it is a disease that usually resides in pigs. But this new strain of swine flu goes by the name of H1N1, and has a mix viruses from pigs and humans making it very susceptible for humans. The signs of swine flu are a sudden fever, coughing, extreme fatigue, muscle aches, diarrhea, and vomiting.

So will it be safe to eat pork meats? Yes, it is perfectly safe to eat them as the swine flu canâ??t be contracted through consumption. But always make positive to cook the pork that you are eating at temperatures over 70 degrees Celsius in order to kill any other bacteria or viruses that is within the meat.