Swine Flu Facts

Looking for a few swine flu facts? Swine flu is actually a respiratory disease that occurs in pigs after they have developed type A influenza. Contrary to what you may have seen in the media, swine flu actually causes few deaths in pigs. Although swine flu can circulate year round, outbreaks generally occur in the late fall and winter months. There are several different types of swine flu, including H1N1, H1N2, H3N2, and H3N1. You have probably heard a lot of myths regarding swine flu, so this article will aim to provide you with facts that you need to know.

1. Swine Flu is not Common. The media has made swine flu out to be a much bigger deal than it really is. According to the CDC, in the United States, there is only a single case of swine flu that affects humans every one to two years.
2. You cannot Catch Swine Flu from Eating Pork. This is one of the biggest swine flu myths out there. There is no swine flu virus that you can contract via food. If you happen to be eating pork from a pig that had swine flu, the virus will be killed off when the internal temperature of the meat reaches 160 degrees F.
3. Swine Flu is Treatable. There are actually four different types of antiviral medications that are available for the treatment of swine flu. Those medications include oseltamivir, amantadine, zanamivir, and rimantadine.
4. H1N1 Swine Flu is Different than Human H1N1. The vaccines that are available for human H1N1 will not vaccinate against swine flu. Both H1N1 swine flu and H1N1 human flu are antigenically different.
5. No Swine Flu Vaccine Exists. Many people are under the assumption that a vaccination for swine flu is available. While there are vaccines available that can prevent swine influenza in pigs, there is no swine flu vaccination for humans. However, if you get a seasonal flu shot, it is possible that you will be partially protected against swine H3N2.