WHAT IS SWINE FLU?

Swine influenza (also called H1N1 flu, swine flu, hog flu, and pig flu) is an infection by any one of several types of swine influenza virus. Swine influenza virus (SIV) is any strain of the influenza family of viruses that is endemic in pigs.[2] As of 2009, the known SIV strains include influenza C and the subtypes of influenza A known as H1N1, H1N2, H3N1, H3N2, and H2N3.
Swine influenza virus is common throughout pig populations worldwide. Transmission of the virus from pigs to humans is not common and does not always lead to human influenza, often resulting only in the production of antibodies in the blood. If transmission does cause human influenza, it is called zoonotic swine flu. People with regular exposure to pigs are at increased risk of swine flu infection. The meat of an infected animal poses no risk of infection when properly cooked.
During the mid-20th century, identification of influenza subtypes became possible, allowing accurate diagnosis of transmission to humans. Since then, only 50 such transmissions have been confirmed. These strains of swine flu rarely pass from human to human. Symptoms of zoonotic swine flu in humans are similar to those of influenza and of influenza-like illness in general, namely chills, fever, sore throat, muscle pains, severe headache, coughing, weakness and general discomfort.
SOURCE:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swine_influenza#Classification

CLASSIFICATION OF INFLUENZA VIRUS

ClassificationOf the three genera of influenza viruses that cause human flu, two also cause influenza in pigs, with influenza A being common in pigs and influenza C being rare.[3] Influenza B has not been reported in pigs. Within influenza A and influenza C, the strains found in pigs and humans are largely distinct, although due to reassortment there have been transfers of genes among strains crossing swine, avian, and human species boundaries.
Influenza CInfluenza C viruses infect both humans and pigs, but do not infect birds.[4] Transmission between pigs and humans have occurred in the past.[5] For example, influenza C caused small outbreaks of a mild form of influenza amongst children in Japan[6] and California.[6] Due to its limited host range and the lack of genetic diversity in influenza C, this form of influenza does not cause pandemics in humans.[7]
Influenza ASwine influenza is known to be caused by influenza A subtypes H1N1,[8] H1N2,[8] H3N1,[9] H3N2,[8] and H2N3.[10] In pigs, three influenza A virus subtypes (H1N1, H3N2, and H1N2) are the most common strains worldwide.[11] In the United States, the H1N1 subtype was exclusively prevalent among swine populations before 1998; however, since late August 1998, H3N2 subtypes have been isolated from pigs. As of 2004, H3N2 virus isolates in US swine and turkey stocks were triple reassortants, containing genes from human (HA, NA, and PB1), swine (NS, NP, and M), and avian (PB2 and PA) lineages.[12]
SOURCE:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swine_influenza#Classification

HOW SWINE FLU VIRUS GETS TRANSMITTED?

SWINE FLU GETS TRANMITTED AMONG PIGS AND FROM PIG TO HUMANS AS FOLLOWS:

TRANSMISSION BETWEEN PIGS

Influenza is quite common in pigs, with about half of breeding pigs having been exposed to the virus in the US.[51] Antibodies to the virus are also common in pigs in other countries.[51]
The main route of transmission is through direct contact between infected and uninfected animals.[11] These close contacts are particularly common during animal transport. Intensive farming may also increase the risk of transmission, as the pigs are raised in very close proximity to each other.[52][53] The direct transfer of the virus probably occurs either by pigs touching noses, or through dried mucus. Airborne transmission through the aerosols produced by pigs coughing or sneezing are also an important means of infection.[11] The virus usually spreads quickly through a herd, infecting all the pigs within just a few days.[2] Transmission may also occur through wild animals, such as wild boar, which can spread the disease between farms.[54]
SOURCE:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swine_influenza#Classification

TRANSMISSION OFSWINE FLU TO HUMANS

People who work with poultry and swine, especially people with intense exposures, are at increased risk of zoonotic infection with influenza virus endemic in these animals, and constitute a population of human hosts in which zoonosis and reassortment can co-occur.[55] Vaccination of these workers against influenza and surveillance for new influenza strains among this population may therefore be an important public health measure.[56] Transmission of influenza from swine to humans who work with swine was documented in a small surveillance study performed in 2004 at the University of Iowa.[57] This study among others forms the basis of a recommendation that people whose jobs involve handling poultry and swine be the focus of increased public health surveillance.[55] Other professions at particular risk of infection are veterinarians and meat processing workers, although the risk of infection for both of these groups is lower than that of farm workers.[58]
SOURCE:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swine_influenza#Classification

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF SWINE FLU?

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,
■Cough,
■Running Nose,
■Sore Throat,
■Nausea,
■Headaches,
■Joint Pains,
■Body Aches,
■Vomiting and
■Diarrhea
SOURCE:http://indiafascinates.com/health/swine-flu-symptoms/

PREVENTIVE MEASURES TO BE TAKEN AGAINST SWINEFLU

These are Universal Precaution measures to be taken against swine flu2. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water. YOU WILL HAVE TO CARRY SOAP AND WATER IN YOUR BAG AS THESE WILL NOT BE EASILY AVAILABLE IN PUBLIC PLACES, HOW FREQUENTLY IS NOT TIME SPECIFIC.
3. Avoid touching your nose, mouth and eyes. USE GLOVES ALWAYS AND IF YOU HAVE TO TOUCH THESE ORGANS OF YOURS PLEASE REMOVE THE GLOVES AND TOUCH THEM.
4. Cover your cough and sneezes with a tissue or cough into your upper sleeve. COUGHING INTO YOUR UPPER SLEEVE SOCIALLY UNHEALTHY IDEA AS SOMEBODY WHO IS STANDING CLOSE TO YOU COULD GET AFFECTED BY YOUR UPPER SLEEVE, BESIDES THE UPPER SLEEVE WILL NOT COVER YOUR MOUTH AND NOSE WHEN YOU SNEEZE.
5. Cover your Nose/Mouth if anyone around is coughing/sneezing. IT IS BETTER TO WEAR A VEIL LIKE THE MUSLIM WOMEN OR KEEP IT COVERED LIKE A BANDIT RATHER THAN RUSHING TO COVER YOUR NOSE/MOUTH SOMEBODY AROUND IS SNEEZING AND THIS COVERING UP BUSINESS WILL BE DIFFICULT IF YOU ARE TRAVELLING IN A LOCAL TRAIN OR YOU ARE CARRYING THINGS IN BOTH THE HANDS, THE VEIL OR BURQA COULD BE BETTER.
6. Avoid shaking hands and always wash your hands after physical contact with others. THIS IS PREPOSTEROUS, WASHING HANDS AFTER SHAKING, IT WOULD LOOK RUDE, BETTER JOIN BOTH PALMS OF YOUR HAND IN NAMASTE, IN SUCH TIMES THE BHARTIYA MODE OF GREETING IS A HEALTHY WAY OUT.
7. Keep frequently touched surfaces clean (telephone, desks, office equipments etc). AVOID GOING TO CYBERCAFES AS THE MOUSE, THE KEYBOARD COULD BE TOUCHED BY AN INFECTED PERSON.
8. Limit unnecessary visitors. PUT A BOARD OUTSIDE YOUR OFFICE, BEWARE OF SWINE FLU, KEEP SAFE DISTANCE OF 2 FEET FROM THE PERSON INSIDE (I.E. YOUR GOODSELF).
9. Maintain a healthy lifestyle; attention to rest, diet, exercise and relaxation helps maintain good physical and emotional heath. NOW THAT YOU WON'T BE GOING TO MALL, OR ANY PUBLIC PLACE YOU CAN DO ALL OR EITHER OF THESE AS MENTIONED IN POINT NO.9.
11.Avoid unnecessary travel to Swine Flu affected International / domestic destinations. DOE IT MEAN IF IT IS NECESSARY FOR YOU TO TRAVEL TO SWINE FLU AFFECTED AREA YOU WONT GET INFECTED, THIS IS RIDICULOUS, BETTER CHECK WITH THE MUNICIPALITY HOW TO IDENTIFY IF THE AREA IS SWINE FLU AFFECTED. SUPPOSE THE NEWS SAYS SO MANY PERSONS DIED OF SWINE FLU FROM XYZ AREA THEN CATCH THE FIRST TRAIN AND LEAVE THAT XYZ AREA AND GO TO THE VILLAGE, WHERE THERE ARE NO SWINES ROAMING IN THE VILLAGE.
12.If travel to Swine Flu High Risk areas required, use a Face Mask ( N-95 WHO approved for Swine Flu). IF THAT IS NOT AVAILABLE OR YOU DO NOT KNOW WHERE TO GET IT WEAR A VEIL / BURQA OR COVER YOUR FACE LIKE A BANDIT.

SOURCE:http://in.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090806225027AAboSTc