Swine flu

What is swine flu?

Swine flu is a respiratory disease that happens regularly in pigs and occasionally humans --most commonly, humans who are around pigs, but it's possible for the virus to spread from person to person. Symptoms are similar to regular flu: Fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue, body aches, headaches, chills, and these symptoms can vary from mild to severe. Like regular flu, swine flu can cause a worsening of underlying chronic conditions. This new strain also appears to cause more diarrhea and vomiting than normal flu.

Obviously, you can become ill from contact with an infected pig or environment but in human to human transmission, it happens from coming in contact with the coughing and sneezing of infected people, or physical contact, like shaking hands and then touching, say, your nose or mouth. There's no vaccine available for swine flu but generally, the same anti-viral drugs you'd use for the flu will help against swine flu and like the traditional flu, the drugs work best when taken sooner rather than later --specifically within two days of symptoms. You are contagious if you are symptomatic, and possibly for as much as seven days after the onset of such symptoms. Children might be contagious for longer periods.

Preventive measures and if you get sick:

--Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you sneeze

--Wash your hands often, especially after you cough or sneeze (alcohol based hand cleaners also work)

--If you live in an area where swine flu cases have been reported and you become ill with flu-like symptoms, contact your doctor or health care provider. They'll determine a treatment if necessary.

--If you get sick, stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to prevent further spread of the virus

More serious signs should be addressed immediately:

--In children: Fast breathing or troubled breathing, blue-ish skin color, not drinking enough fluids, not waking up or not interacting, being so irritable that the child doesn't wanna be held, or fever with a rash, or flu-like symptoms that improve and return with a fever and worse cough

--For adults: Difficulty breathing, pain in the chest or abdomen, sudden dizziness, confusion and severe or persistent vomiting.