Swine Flu
June 11, 2009
What is swine flu?
Swine flu is a respiratory disease which infects pigs.
Swine flu does not normally infect humans although cases do occur sometimes in people who have had close contact with pigs.
Transmission of swine flu between humans is thought to spread in the same way as influenza,through coughing and sneezing.
In the latest outbreak it is clear that the disease is being passed between humans.
Symptoms of swine flu in humans include - fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, chills and fatigue.
Two drugs commonly used to treat flu, Tamiflu and Relenza, are effective at treating cases that have occurred in Mexico and the US so far. However, the drugs must be administered at an early stage to be effective.
Use of these drugs may also make it less likely that infected people will pass the virus on to others.
The UK has a stockpile of around 33 million doses of Tamiflu, in case the swine flu turns into a global pandemic.
It is unclear how effective flu vaccines are at offering protection against swine flu as it is genetically distinct from other flu strains.
Scientists are already developing a bespoke new vaccine, but it may take some time to manufacture enough supplies to meet the huge demand of a pandemic.
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