What is Swine Flu?

Novel H1N1 (also known as “Swine Flu Virus” ) is a new influenza virus causing illness in people. This new virus was first detected in people in the United States in April 2009. This virus is spreading from person-to-person worldwide, probably in much the same way that regular seasonal influenza viruses spread. On June 11, 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) signaled that a pandemic of novel H1N1 flu was underway.

This virus was originally referred to as “Swine Flu Virus” because laboratory testing showed that many of the genes in this new virus were very similar to influenza viruses that normally occur in Pigs (Swine) 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 bird (avian) genes and human genes.

This is what the Swine Flu Virus looks like under a Electron Microscope.

Photo Courtesy : Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Human infections with the new H1N1 virus are ongoing in all parts of the world. Most people who have become ill with this new virus have recovered without requiring medical treatment. The novel H1N1 virus is contagious and spreads from human to human.

Swine Flu (also called H1N1 Flu, Swine Influenza or Pig Flu) is an infection by any one of several types of Swine Influenza Virus.

Swine Influenza Virus includes...

1. Virus Type C

2. Subtypes of Virus Type A such as

• H1N1
• H1N2
• H3N1
• H3N2
• H2N3