H1N1 flu update

  • Published
  • By Misty J. Looney
  • 14th Medical Group Public Health Officer
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  USNORTHCOM issued a Force Health Protection notification April 24 detailing prevention steps to take to prevent the spread of Swine Flu. New cases continue to emerge but there are steps you can take to prevent the spread of illness. 

The following information provides information on the recent Swine Flu outbreak.
14 FTW Leadership and Medical Group personnel are diligently tracking this recent outbreak of Swine Influenza in Mexico and the United States. We will provide updates to Columbus AFB personnel as they are available. 

It is recommended that you utilize the Centers for Disease Control website www.cdc.gov as your primary source for information on this outbreak. Below are commonly asked questions about influenza. 

What is Swine Influenza? 

Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza virus that regularly causes outbreaks of influenza in pigs. Swine flu viruses cause high levels of illness and low death rates in pigs. Swine influenza viruses may circulate among swine throughout the year, but most outbreaks occur during the late fall and winter months similar to outbreaks in humans. The classical swine flu virus (an influenza type A H1N1 virus) was first isolated from a pig in 1930. 

Can humans catch swine flu? 

Swine flu viruses do not normally infect humans. However, sporadic human infections with swine flu have occurred. Most commonly, these cases occur in persons with direct exposure to pigs (e.g. children near pigs at a fair or workers in the swine industry). In addition, there have been documented cases of one person spreading swine flu to others. 

How common is swine flu infection in humans? 

In the past, CDC received reports of approximately one human swine influenza virus infection every one to two years in the U.S., but from December 2005 through February 2009, 12 cases of human infection with swine influenza have been reported.
 
What are the symptoms of swine flu in humans? 

The symptoms of swine flu in people are expected to be similar to the symptoms of regular human seasonal influenza and include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and coughing. Some people with swine flu also have reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. 

Can people catch swine flu from eating pork?
 
No. Swine influenza viruses are not transmitted by food. You cannot get swine influenza from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork and pork products is safe. Cooking pork to an internal temperature of 160°F kills the swine flu virus as it does other bacteria and viruses. 

How does swine flu spread? 

Influenza viruses can be directly transmitted from pigs to people and from people to pigs. Human infection with flu viruses from pigs are most likely to occur when people are in close proximity to infected pigs, such as in pig barns and livestock exhibits housing pigs at fairs. Human-to-human transmission of swine flu can also occur. This is thought to occur in the same way as seasonal flu occurs in people, which is mainly person-to-person transmission through coughing or sneezing of people infected with the influenza virus. People may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose. 

How can human infections with swine influenza be diagnosed? 

To diagnose swine influenza A infection, a respiratory specimen would generally need to be collected within the first 4 to 5 days of illness (when an infected person is most likely to be shedding virus). However, some persons, especially children, may shed virus for 10 days or longer. Identification as a swine flu influenza A virus requires sending the specimen to CDC for laboratory testing. 

What medications are available to treat swine flu infections in humans? 

There are four different antiviral drugs that are licensed for use in the US for the treatment of influenza. At this time, CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir or zanamivir for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with swine influenza viruses. 

Is the H1N1 swine flu virus the same as human H1N1 viruses? 

No. The H1N1 swine flu viruses are antigenically very different from human H1N1 viruses and, therefore, vaccines for human seasonal flu would not provide protection from H1N1 swine flu viruses. While H1N1 swine viruses have been known to circulate among pig populations since at least 1930, H3N2 influenza viruses did not begin circulating among US pigs until 1998. The H3N2 viruses initially were introduced into the pig population from humans. The current swine flu H3N2 viruses are closely related to human H3N2 viruses. 

Is there a vaccine for swine flu? 

Vaccines are available to be given to pigs to prevent swine influenza. There is no vaccine to protect humans from swine flu. The seasonal influenza vaccine will likely help provide partial protection against swine H3N2, but not swine H1N1 viruses.