H1N1 Swine Flu
Overview
Novel H1N1 (referred to as swine flu early on) is a new influenza virus causing illness in people. This new virus was first detected in people in the United States in April 2009. Other countries, including Mexico and Canada, have reported people sick with this new virus. The Novel H1N1 virus is spreading from person-to-person, probably in much the same way that regular seasonal influenza viruses spread.
This virus was originally referred to as swine flu because laboratory testing showed that many of the genes in this new virus were very similar to influenza viruses that normally occur in pigs in North America. But further study has shown that this new virus is very different from what normally circulates in North American pigs. It has two genes from flu viruses that normally circulate in pigs in Europe and Asia and avian genes and human genes. Scientists call this a quadruple reassortant virus.
Symptoms
The symptoms of novel H1N1 (swine) flu virus in people are similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. A significant number of people who have been infected with this virus also have reported diarrhea and vomiting. Also, like seasonal flu, severe illnesses and death has occurred as a result of illness associated with this virus.
Severity
CDC is still learning about the severity of novel H1N1 (swine) flu virus. At this time, there is not enough information to predict how severe novel H1N1 (swine) flu outbreak will be in terms of illness and death or how it will compare with seasonal influenza. With seasonal flu, we know that seasons vary in terms of timing, duration and severity. Seasonal influenza can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. Each year, in the United States, on average 36,000 people die from flu-related complications and more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu-related causes. Of those hospitalized, 20,000 are children younger than 5 years old. Over 90% of deaths and about 60% of hospitalization occur in people older than 65. So far, with novel H1N1 (swine) flu, the largest number of novel H1N1 (swine) flu confirmed and probable cases have occurred in people between the ages of 5 and 24-years-old. At this time, there are few cases and no deaths reported in people older than 64 years old, which is unusual when compared with seasonal flu. However, pregnancy and other previously recognized high risk medical conditions from seasonal influenza appear to be associated with increased risk of complications from this novel H1N1 (swine) flu.
More from MD Stetson on the H1N1 Virus
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Facility Cleaning & Disinfecting
Links & Resources
Products
H1N1 FAQ
