Swine flu

Swine influenza is a disease in pigs. The virus currently spreading among people is generally referred to as swine flu. Swine flu in pigs does not infect humans, except those people who are in close contact with pigs.

The swine flu that has spread to humans is a version H1N1 subtype..

Why is swine flu affecting humans?

Swine flu virus has mutated and is able to infect humans and transmit between them. If someone coughs or sneezes without covering those droplets can spread about one metre (3ft).

Or, if someone coughs or sneezes into their hand, the virus are transferred to surfaces that the person touches, such as door handles, hand rails, telephones and keyboards & the virus can enter your system if you touch them.

Is it safe to eat pig meat?

Yes. The WHO says there is no evidence that swine flu can be spread through eating meat from infected animals. However, it is essential to cook meat properlyat a temperature of 70°C (158°F) to kill the virus. Pig meat includes pork, bacon, ham and pork products.

What are the symptoms of swine flu?

The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human seasonal flu and include.

High fever
fatigue
headache,
runny nose and sneezing
sore throat
shortness of breath
loss of appetite
vomiting and diarrhoea, or
aching muscles, limb and joint pain.
Complications of swine flu

One of the most common complications is bronchitis (infection of the airways). Which can become serious and develop into pneumonia.

Other rare complications include:

tonsilitis,
otitis media (a build-up of fluid in the ear)
septic shock (infection of the blood that causes a severe drop in blood pressure)
meningitis (infection in the brain and spinal cord), and
encephalitis (inflammation of the brain)
Which people are most vulnerable from swine flu?

Those who are more at risk from becoming seriously ill with swine flu are people with:

chronic (long-term) lung disease, including people who have had drug treatment for their asthma within the past three years, chronic heart disease, chronic kidney disease, chronic liver disease, chronic neurological disease (neurological disorders include motor neurone disease, Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis), suppressed immune systems (whether caused by disease or treatment), diabetes, pregnant women, people aged 65 or older, and young children under five.

Precautions to fight against Swine Flu

1. Wash your hands frequently

Wash your hands with antibacterial soaps for15 seconds and rinse with running water.

2. Get enough sleep

get 8 hours of sleep every night to keep your immune system in fighting shape.

3. Drink sufficient water

Drink 8 to10 glasses of water each day to flush toxins from your system and maintain good moisture and mucous production in your sinuses.

4. Boost your immune system

Keeping your body strong, nourished, and ready to fight infection by eating whole grains, colorful vegetables, and vitamin-rich fruits.

5. Keep informed

The government is taking necessary steps to prevent the pandemic and periodically release guidelines to keep the pandemic away.

6. Avoid alcohol

Stay away from alcohol as it is an immune suppressant that can decrease your resistance to viral infections like swine flu..

7. Be physically active

Moderate exercise like brisk walking for 30-40 minutes 3-4 times a week can support the immune system by increasing circulation and oxygenating the body.

8. Keep away from sick people

Flu virus spreads when particles dispersed into the air through a cough or sneeze reach someone 9. Know when to get help

Consult your doctor if you have a cough and fever and follow their instructions, including taking medicine as prescribed.

10. Avoid crowded areas

Try to avoid unnecessary trips outside

Precaution Homeopathy.

Influenzinum 1M [for adults 10yrs n above] once a day in the morning for a week
Kid Influenz 200 [1 to 10 yrs] once a day in the morning.

Vaccine progress

The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed last week that the first swine flu vaccines are likely to be licensed for use in the general population in September. Initial batches of an H1N1 vaccine have already been produced, and clinical trials are underway. but it will take several months to get enough for everyone

Is swine flu treatable?

Swine flu can be treated with the antiviral medicines oseltamavir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza). Which must be taken at an early stage to be effective.

Relenza reduces the duration of flu symptoms by one and a half days on average. Tamiflu reduces the duration of symptoms by one to two days

What do antivirals do?

Antivirals are not a cure, but they help you to recover by:

relieving some of the symptoms,

reducing the length of time you are ill by around one day, and

reducing the potential for serious complications, such as pneumonia.

Can I take antiviral drugs if I am pregnant?

Yes, on the advice of a doctor. The Department of Health has bought Relenza, an inhaled antiviral drug that treats flu without reaching the developing fetus. In case of severe flu Tamiflucan be given on the advice of Doctor.

Should I stop breastfeeding if I need to take antiviral drugs?

Women who are breastfeeding can continue to do so while receiving antiviral treatment.. Antiviral drugs are excreted into breast milk in very small (insignificant) amounts.

Can children take antivirals?

Yes, on the advice of a doctor. Tamiflu is safe for infants aged one and above, at a reduced dose. Relenza (an inhaler) can be used by children aged five and older under the supervision of an adult.

Can babies under the age of one take antivirals?

Tamiflu and Relenza are not licensed for use in babies under one. However, the European Medicines Agency has advised that babies may be treated with Tamiflu, considering that:

the appropriate dosage to treat children aged under one is 2-3mg/kg twice daily for five days, children are preferably treated under medical supervision, and dilution of the capsule content can be used to prepare the dose.

Can I take antivirals if I have asthma or COPD?

Yes, Tamiflu is safe to take. However, Relenza (an inhaler) is not given to people with asthma as it can cause breathing complications.

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Essential Facts About Swine Flu

There won`t be a single person unaware of the term `swine flu` by now. With the way it is spreading across the world, everyone is wary of catching the disease and falling prey to its ill-effects. Although there is hardly anything that we can do to keep the disease at bay, it is pertinent to learn a few important things about it. Swine flu is caused by pigs. But no, keeping pigs in the backyard will not give rise to the dreaded disease and neither if you fondle it or kiss it. There is a chance of you getting infected if the pig has the virus, but generally it takes much more than that to get the dreaded disease.

Our fascinating immune system:

There must have plenty of times that we have been infected with the normal human flu. It is not very dangerous except for very young infants and old people, already leading a debilitating life. Thankfully enough, nature has entrusted us with such an immune system which immediately recognizes an alien in the body and rises to the occasion to incapacitate it. But this leads to a mutation of the virus which returns to try its luck again. This time, our immune system faces a little more difficulty in driving it away. This is the reason why better vaccines must be developed each time to fight the enhanced form of the virus.

How does swine flu affect us?

When there is a mutation in the external proteins of the normal human flu virus, our immune system puts forth its defense mechanism to fight the virus. During this time, we suffer from the effects of the virus, like having fever and running nose and perhaps some respiratory problems. If it so happens that the body is unable to meet the challenge thrown by the virus, we succumb to the virus and have to breathe our last. In case of swine flu, our body is not able to recognize the symptoms of the virus which makes it increasingly difficult to fight against it. The virus has now crossed the bridge and attacked the human race from the pigs.

Are you susceptible to the virus?

It has been found that people who have had no interaction with pigs are most susceptible to swine flu. Their immune system has no record of such a virus and is least equipped to fight it. When the virus affects a significant part of the population of a place, it will surely turn out to be pandemic. It is difficult to pronounce the exact effects of the swine flu virus in the global perspective. How virulent the virus is will determine the degree to which it will affect the humans. Several other factors are also responsible for the outbreak of swine flu as a pandemic.

The spread of the disease:

In the past, swine flu would not have spread and become pandemic throughout the world. It would have affected an entire locality or city. But with people traveling great distances across the seas and oceans, the flu is not one to stay behind. By the time a person learns that he is infected, he may be thousands of miles away from his city.

Necessary precautions:

So what should be done to avoid this dreaded disease? Firstly, now that we know that there is a particular season when the pigs are affected by this flu, we should put the pigs in quarantine and prepare specially designed suits for people who handle them. Basic hygiene is a must with clean hands and clean environment. And further, traveling to places where swine flu is rampant should be avoided for some time until the particular period of getting the virus is gone. You can also take the help of different agencies who will help you to guard against swine flu. So educate yourself and help design a better life for yourself.

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Prevent the H1N1 Swine Flu

The world is fraught with danger. War, Famine and Pestilence cover the lands like some biblical dooms day prediction come to life and we here in the United States are stretching the limits of our vast riches and technological resources to keep them from our shores. Politicians on both the local and national stage are preparing for the swine flu pandemic by stock piling millions of doses of H1N1 vaccine for Novel Influenza A in a direct response to the world wide dilemma, "How to prevent H1N1 swine flu?"

Does the United States stand ready as the bell rings for round 3?

This isn't the first time the United States has faced this adversary. In 1918 the government didn't act fast enough and the virus swept through North America killing thousands in its wake. The effects were so devastating it cost us more lives than World War One. Over half a million Americans and 20 million people around the world died. There have been recent claims that the 1918 strain was Avian (bird flu) but that claim is countered by the suspicion world leaders are trying to "control panic" with this "new" information.

In 1976 it's ugly head reared again, this time on a military base Ft. Dix in New Jersey. A young soldier was the first to die and the memories of 1918 kicked off a major national effort to develop a vaccine and inoculate the population.

This time the government charged ahead too quickly, the pandemic never developed (only 200 cases of H1N1 were reported with 1 death) but over 22 thousand Americans developed terrible side effects to the vaccine including Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare neurological condition that causes temporary paralysis and can be fatal. The inoculation effort was abandoned after 10 weeks leaving the government severely embarrassed and creating a public backlash against vaccination that is still felt these 33 years later.

If 3 times a charm, will vaccination prevent H1N1 swine flu in 2009?

No one knows for certain. The inoculation is untested and very few people have been exposed to the "new" formula. Ugly rumors are circulating and conspiracy theories abound. What we know for sure is that our government is getting behind inoculation in their official attempt to prevent a pandemic and there may be little choice in the end.

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H1N1 Swine Flu Virus Treatment

How much do we know about this new H1N1 virus? Actually we do not know the severeness of this new virus to us. But it is always safe to take precautionary measures. Do we have medicines that treat this type of infection?

Centers for Disease Control of USA are recommending the use of oseltamivir or zanamivir for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with the new H1N1 Swine Flu virus. There are also antiviral drugs which are prescription medicines in the forms of pills, liquid or inhaler that fight against the flu. It helps prevent the flu virus from keeping reproducing in your body. These drugs can make you feel better faster and prevent from serious complications.

The next question is, how much each country has in their stock inventory? What if the virus spreads out? While every country in the world is trying to prevent the spread of the virus in and out of their countries, it is best that we also help prevent it within our homes. How can we protect ourselves from getting the virus?

Here is a summary of recommendations I gathered from the articles I read recently:

* You make sure you are aware of the symptoms of a Swine flu virus.
* If you are sick, it is better to call your health care provider right away and ask their advice.
* Stay away with sick people.
* Avoid touching your mouth, nose, and eyes often. Wash your hands always.
* Always cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing.
* Listen to news and watch your TV about for any new case in your area.
* It is better to stay away from countries that are affected by swine flu.
* Avoid sleeping late and take plenty of rest.
* Eat healthy diet foods and do your regular exercise at home.
* Secure yourself a dozen of respirator for emergency.

In summary, if we all observe the precautionary measures in containing the virus within our homes, it will be a big help in preventing the spreading out of this dangerous virus.

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How to Prevent Swine Flu

To prevent swine flu, many people think that wearing face masks and popping vitamin supplements will boost their immunity against the disease. However, many experts believe that we need to do more to keep swine flu at bay.

Wearing a face mask only stops an infected person from coughing and sneezing on other people. It does not stop germs from invading our bodies. Taking vitamin supplements will not help if we do not adopt a healthy lifestyle.

We are especially vulnerable to swine flu at the moment as the vaccine is not yet available. The best way to cope with swine flu is to boost our immune system.

Experts recommend the following tips to boost our immune system:

1) Going On A Healthy Diet

Experts recommend eating a balanced diet, with at least five to seven servings of fresh fruit and vegetables. Your daily diet should also include good protein and essential fatty acids. Salmon and eggs are excellent choices.

2) Exercise Thirty Minutes Daily, Five Times A Week

Experts have found out that during moderate exercise, immune cells circulate through the body more quickly and are able to locate and kill bacteria and viruses more promptly. After exercise ends, the immune system returns to normal after a few hours. But when you exercise regularly, the positive immune response your body exhibits appears more long-lasting.

3) Take Adequate Vitamin A and Vitamin C

Vitamin A is required to maintain tissues lining our lungs and digestive system. Sweet potatoes and carrots are excellent sources of Vitamin A. Vitamin C is an antioxidant which prevents inflammation of our tissue lining. Oranges and grapefruit are high in Vitamin C.

4) Get Sufficient Sleep

Our bodies have a chance to rejuvenate and undergo cell renewal when we sleep. This ensures that our immunity system is functioning at an optimum level at all times. We should also sleep in well-ventilated rooms.

5) Quit Smoking

Smoking compromises the respiratory system, making it more susceptible to attacks by flu viruses and other bacteria. Incidentally, by maintaining a healthy diet, a smoker is likely to cut down on cigarettes as a healthy diet spoils his or her taste for cigarettes. It will make quitting smoking easier.

6) Cleanse Your Blood

Cleanse and support the blood with garlic, tomato, spinach and nettle tea. Improve blood circulation with frequent dry skin brushing. This helps to reduce cellulite in women too.

Do you want additional free tips on how to cope with the current swine flu pandemic? Click on swine flu information for more details and updates.

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Swine Flu Q&A

Swine flu or the H1N1 virus has become the new bubonic plague: everyone is talking about it, and no one seems to know what to do about it. It's as if we had been thrust back into the dark ages, not having any idea of what to do and fearing that we might be the next victims of this merciless disease. Here are some answers for those who have questions.

Q. Is the H1N1 virus incurable?

A. Like many viruses, yes, swine flu is currently incurable. However, that doesn't mean that it can't be fought. Swine flu symptoms are like any other flu symptoms. This means that normal flu medicines will be effective in relieving the symptoms of swine flu. However, that doesn't mean it's being cured. Also, anti-viral medicines, such as Tamiflu and Relenza may also be effective and are recommended by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control).

Q. If I get infected by the H1N1 virus could I die?

A. As with any disease, if you let it go unhindered, there is a possibility for death. However, in the 13,217 confirmed cases in the United States as of June 7, 2009, only 27 have resulted in death.

Q. What can I do to prevent swine flu?

A. The number 1 step to take according to the CDC is to wash your hands often and thoroughly. Use alcohol-based hand cleaners as an alternative to hand-washing if sinks are not accessible. Other prevention measures include avoiding people who are coughing or sneezing and avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.

Q. What if I catch the H1N1 virus, how will I know?

A. These symptoms are usually the same as normal flu symptoms. A person infected with swine flu will cough, sneeze, ache, get chills, be congested, have a fever, and have a runny nose. Along with these symptoms, they may have vomiting or diarrhea. This is a warning sign of the flu. Also, if the person has chest pain or pressure, trouble breathing, dizziness, confusion, or severe vomiting, medical attention should be sought immediately. If flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and a worse cough, medical help should be sought.

Q. What medicines are ok to take for the flu?

A. The CDC has recommended using Tylenol and ibuprofen medicines. DO NOT USE ASPIRIN DUE TO THE RISK OF CAUSING REYE SYNDROME. The CDC has also recommended oseltamivir and zanamivir, which are anti-viral medicines, for treatment and prevention of swine or other flu infections.

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Swine Flu Information For Women During Pregnancy

Are pregnant women more at risk?

The answer is yes, you are in one of the high-risk groups, so it's worth finding out what you can do to protect yourself and your baby, the special precautions you can take and what the current safety information is for swine flu treatments.

Why are pregnant women more susceptible?

Expectant women are more likely to catch swine flu because in pregnancy their natural immune system is suppressed, so if they do catch it they are more likely to suffer complications. However it's important to stress that the risk of complications is still very small and most pregnant women who catch it will only suffer mild symptoms.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms in pregnant women are similar to those of normal seasonal flu ie: fever and a cough, and occasionally also tiredness, headache, aching muscles, runny nose, sore throat, nausea or diarrhoea.

Most pregnant women will have only mild symptoms and recover within a week. However, there is evidence from previous flu pandemics that pregnant women in the second and third trimester are more likely to develop complications like pneumonia, breathing difficulties and dehydration.

If a you do develop a complication of swine flu, like pneumonia, there is a small risk that this can result in premature labour or miscarriage. But there is not enough information yet to know exactly how likely these birth risks are.

How can I protect against it?

Avoid unnecessary travel and crowds, where possible.
Follow the general health advice: use and bin tissues, wash hands with soap frequently, clean hard surfaces regularly.
If your partner or a close family member or friend has swine flu check with your GP - you may be prescribed antiviral medication as a preventative measure.
If you think that you may have swine flu, check your symptoms online. If you are still concerned, call your doctor for an assessment immediately.
If you DON'T have symptoms carry on attending your antenatal appointments as normal.

What are the treatments available for pregnant women?

If you are pregnant and diagnosed with swine flu you may be prescribed the anti-viral drug Relenza (in inhaler form) which is safe for you and your growing baby. If your symptoms are severe you may be given Tamiflu.
You can also take paracetamol-based cold remedies to reduce fever and other symptoms, these are pregnancy-safe.

The vaccine will be available in the Autumn, and you should take up the offer of vaccination when it is given to you. The vaccine will not harm you or your baby.

What about children?

The Government advises that if your child is showing symptoms of swine flu and has a temperature higher than 38degC, you should seek consult your GP. The best protection for young babies is to breastfeed as this builds up immunity. Also keep them away from crowded places when possible and observe good hygiene.

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Swine Flu Illness Different From Seasonal Flu

The swine flu illness, or A (H1N1) was given pandemic status by the World Health Organization (a mark of its ability to spread, rather than the severity of the illness) on June 11, 2009. So far the illness has struck more than a million in the U.S. alone, yet scientists are still learning some very basic things about this organism, unknown in humans until April 2009 in Mexico.

It seems that this newest flu virus affects the lungs and stomach, while seasonal flu viruses tend to leave these organs untouched. The intriguing research reports appear in the July 2, 2009 online edition of Science.

In experiments with ferrets (because flu effects them in the same way as humans), teams in the U.S. and the Netherlands found that the new strain of flu virus replicated more extensively in the respiratory tract. The seasonal flu virus remained mostly in the animals' nasal cavities. The A (H1N1) virus also found its way into the ferret's intestinal tract, again unlike its seasonal counterpart.

When it comes to the new virus' ability to spread, the research teams differ.

The Dutch scientists found that swine flu is just as easy to transmit as the regular flu, while the U.S. team found A (H1N1) less likely to be spread when compared to seasonal flu. They believe that the respiratory droplets don't seem to transmit A (H1N1) viruses as well as they do the regular flu virus.

"Findings from the study demonstrate that, in ferrets, the novel 2009 H1N1 influenza virus leads to increased morbidity and increased respiratory disease when compared to contemporary seasonal human influenza viruses," explains researcher Terrence M. Tumpey, a senior microbiologist in the influenza branch of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

But just because this flu might not be as easily spread does not mean that H1N1 can't cause trouble, serious trouble, once in the human body.

Health officials are convinced they will be able to create a vaccine for A (H1N1)... but the challenge is vaccine making isn't an exact science or a quick process. As it is scientists take a calculated risk every year in choosing which strains of flu virus to protect against.

These latest findings are helpful according to U.S. researchers as they suggest to authorities what the appropriate public health response might be.

Only two weeks ago, U.S. health officials mentioned that they were thinking about a swine flu immunization campaign that might involve an amazing 600 million doses of the vaccine.

Seasonal flu, by contrast, calls for the administration of about 115 million vaccinations per year; childhood vaccines total 150 million doses annually.

Still to be worked out is finding the health care professionals to administer all those shots, and a way to keep track of side effects from the vaccinations.

"One thing we know for sure about influenza viruses is that they are unpredictable," Tumpey cautioned. "The characteristics that the virus is displaying today might not hold true in the upcoming months."

So what can you do to protect yourself and your family until a vaccine is ready?

Here are five common sense suggestions from the experts.

1. Wash your hands as much as possible - use the warmest water you can, lather up with soap and rub your fingers, palms, and even under your nails and up your wrists for two choruses of "Happy Birthday". If you're without soap and water, hand sanitizers serve very well.

2. Cover up when you cough or sneeze - using your shoulder, or the crook of your elbow to capture the droplets that are sent into the air and contain the infectious organisms. Wash your hands right away.

3. If you're sick, stay home - if you develop aches, fatigue, fever, coughing or sneezing - don't push yourself... stay home. Call your doctor for advice or an appointment, especially if you have an underlying health condition.

4. Don't touch your face - it's such a natural impulse, but it's also a direct route to the bloodstream for unwanted germs, flu viruses included. Keep your hands away from those mucous membranes - eyes, nose and mouth - as much as possible.

5. Stay away from sick people - not easy, if you're a parent (or spouse) of someone struggling with A (H1N1) flu... or the coworker of someone who refuses to call in sick. Limit time with this person as much as possible. Up your hand washing after whatever contact you have. Use a face mask if you must be very close or the patient is coughing or sneezing quite a bit.

If you do come down with A (H1N1) the good news is that the illness is generally mild you're your recovery will likely be fairly quick. And though the virus is spreading around the world, it has shown no signs, as yet, of mutating to a more dangerous form.

Your best bet in the face of the unpredictableness of swine flu illness is to stay informed, keep up your hand washing and follow all other infection control procedures faithfully, even when it seems the worst has passed.

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H1N1 Swine Flu Virus Treatment

How much do we know about this new H1N1 virus? Actually we do not know the severeness of this new virus to us. But it is always safe to take precautionary measures. Do we have medicines that treat this type of infection?

Centers for Disease Control of USA are recommending the use of oseltamivir or zanamivir for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with the new H1N1 Swine Flu virus. There are also antiviral drugs which are prescription medicines in the forms of pills, liquid or inhaler that fight against the flu. It helps prevent the flu virus from keeping reproducing in your body. These drugs can make you feel better faster and prevent from serious complications.

The next question is, how much each country has in their stock inventory? What if the virus spreads out? While every country in the world is trying to prevent the spread of the virus in and out of their countries, it is best that we also help prevent it within our homes. How can we protect ourselves from getting the virus?

Here is a summary of recommendations I gathered from the articles I read recently:

* You make sure you are aware of the symptoms of a Swine flu virus.
* If you are sick, it is better to call your health care provider right away and ask their advice.
* Stay away with sick people.
* Avoid touching your mouth, nose, and eyes often. Wash your hands always.
* Always cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing.
* Listen to news and watch your TV about for any new case in your area.
* It is better to stay away from countries that are affected by swine flu.
* Avoid sleeping late and take plenty of rest.
* Eat healthy diet foods and do your regular exercise at home.
* Secure yourself a dozen of respirator for emergency.

In summary, if we all observe the precautionary measures in containing the virus within our homes, it will be a big help in preventing the spreading out of this dangerous virus.

Continue lendo >>

H1N1 Virus

Swine flu, now called H1N1 influenza A, is a type of flu virus. It is a new strain of flu that has just recently been affecting people. It is not caught from pigs or by eating pork. It is a human influenza virus and is being spread by people. It is thought to be a combination of three different flu viruses - swine flu, bird flu and human flu. The new strain is extremely contagious and is quickly spreading across the globe.

H1N1 is different from other strains of influenza. This particular strain of influenza has not been previously exposed to humans before so there are no built up immunities to it. This is what makes it so serious. At the current time there is no preventative drug that you can take in order to avoid getting it. That is why people who are elderly, very young or those who have compromised immune systems must be extremely careful to avoid getting the flu.

Just how dangerous it will be remains to be seen. We are just beginning to see the start of the cases in the United States. It is thought to have originated in Mexico but has since spread globally. The worst cases of it seem to be in Mexico, likely because many people were unaware of the dangers of the flu and did not seek immediate medical treatment.

It was renamed H1N1 influenza A to avoid people making a connection to pigs. This is similar in some ways to the flu that hit the world decades ago. However it is proving to be more serious. The outbreak is becoming serious because nobody has any immunity to this particular strain of influenza. It is estimated that approximately 1 in 4 people who come into contact with swine flu with contract it.

The swine flu has similar symptoms to standard seasonal flu bugs. Swine flu is characterized by a high fever at first and extreme fatigue along with muscle aches. There are also typical cold symptoms that accompany the swine flu including a cough and a sore throat and stuffy nose. Some people additionally have reported nausea or vomiting and diarrhea. The severity of the symptoms is what leads most doctors to consider a diagnosis of swine flu.

Anyone who has the symptoms should seek medical attention right away. Those who get immediate treatment are most likely going to make a full recovery. Doctors take a nose and throat swab sample to send to the lab for testing. The results will be returned within several days. The treatment is a drug called Tamiflu. The doctor will prescribe Tamiflu if it is needed. Most people will get over the swine flu within just a few days. Once you have had swine flu your body will have an immunity from this particular strain in the future.

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A-H1N1 Swine Flu

When the first reported cases of A/H1N1 swine flu emerged in April 2009, it was widely believed that the novel influenza strain originated in Mexico. By late June, when evidence failed to materialize confirming a Mexican origin, a new theory hypothesized that A/H1N1 originated in Asia and was transported unintentionally via an unsuspecting human carrier to North America. This though, probably is not the case. Instead it is likely, though not confirmed, that A/H1N1, is a genetically engineered creation that originated in the United States, specifically in a lab in Madison, Wisconsin that had accidentally escaped through some kind of contamination.

The evidence for this scenario is compelling:

1. Prior to the A/H1N1 outbreak, The Institute for Molecular Virology (IMV) located in Bock Labs (administered by the University of Wisconsin-Madison) had been involved in a transmission capability study for vaccine production. This study involved reverse genetic engineering of a tissue specimen that had been extracted from a deceased Intuit woman who had succumbed to Spanish influenza that had killed up to 50 million people during the 1918-19 pandemic.

2. The current A/H1N1 version is a "highly unusual virus" never seen before that combines genetic material from North American human, avian, and swine flus and Eurasian swine flu.[1] Such a combination is unprecedented having never been found in pigs, birds, or people per The Associated Press, and likely improbable to have emerged naturally. When the fact that no close relatives of the current strain exist and IMV's mission - to conduct virology research and training at a molecular level - is taken into account, creation through artificial genetic engineering offers the best explanation.

3. Retired Australian researcher Adrian Gibbs, who played a leading role in the development of Tamiflu®, a highly-effective anti-flu drug, theorized on May 12, 2009 that the new strain of A/H1N1 likely escaped from a laboratory setting because it exhibited characteristics "of having undergone 'accelerated evolution' such as what happens when flu viruses try to adapt to growth in eggs" during vaccine studies.[2] Although The World Health Organization (WHO) swiftly ruled out Mr. Gibbs' theory a day later, it is implausible that sufficient research to ascertain a conclusion could be completed in only 24 hours.

4. When A/H1N1's existence had been firmly established in the United States by May 10, 2009, Wisconsin and Illinois had nearly a third of the country's cases. Since then Wisconsin has consistently led the nation despite its population of 5,627,967 based on July 2008 estimates versus the larger states - California, Texas, New York, Illinois and even Michigan with July 2008 populations of 36,755,666, 24,326,974, 19,490,297, 12,901,563 and 10,003,422, respectively. By June 12, 2009 when dispersion had set in, Wisconsin and Illinois still accounted for more than a quarter of U.S. cases. Demographically speaking this disproportionate caseload makes little sense. However, when Madison, WI is viewed as the point of origin, the two-State caseload provides incontrovertible evidence of the virus' inception. When A/H1N1 likely escaped from IMV, it immediately impacted the city's environs and nearby locales including Illinois (since a sizeable number of Wisconsinites commute to that state each day) before spreading to Mexico (likely transmitted by a U.S. national since Granja Carroll hog farms located in La Gloria where the first case of A/H1N1 is believed to have occurred, is a subsidiary of American-based Smithfield Foods), other parts of the United States and ultimately much of the rest of the world.

Centers For Disease Control (CDC) Bulletins:

5/10/2009: Wisconsin: 357 Cases (14.1% of the national caseload); Illinois: 466 Cases (18.4% of the national caseload)

6/12/2009: Wisconsin: 3008 Cases (16.8% of the national caseload); Illinois: 1983 Cases (11.1% of the national caseload)

5. To date the A/H1N1 2009 pandemic version of swine flu has not been found to be endemic in global pig stocks discounting natural mutation and initial pig to human transmission theories. Furthermore, none of the pig stocks in Wisconsin have tested positive for the novel A/H1N1 strain that currently afflicts the world.

6. Statements and actions point to prior knowledge. As early as April 25, 2009 when the new A/H1N1 strain was officially detected in only 3 states (11 cases), a top CDC official, Dr. Anne Schuchat stated, "We do not think we can contain the spread of this virus." By April 28, 2009 Vice President Joseph Biden ruled out quarantining Mexico citing limited benefits since "the swine flu virus [had] already penetrated many states" (64 cases in 5 states). An immediate quarantine when news of the A/H1N1 outbreak in Mexico surfaced on April 23, 2009 likely was not implemented because the CDC and top U.S. government officials had already been alerted about the accidental escape from IMV and consequent unconfirmed and unreported infections. A quarantine made little sense since cases were rapidly evolving in the United States and because such a step would likely have drawn suspicion when such cases were subsequently confirmed and reported.

7. Samples of the new A/H1N1 virus were already present at the CDC prior to receipt of Mexican specimens. Per CDC virologist Ruben Donis in an interview conducted by Science Direct (published April 29, 2009) - the CDC had completed sequencing of the novel A/H1N1 strain two weeks earlier or by April 15, 2009 - three days before Mexican officials shipped swab samples to its Atlanta headquarters for testing.

Based on the compelling facts above, conclusive evidence exists that the outbreak of A/H1N1 swine flu that has led to the WHO's first pandemic declaration in 41 years, was created synthetically and likely can be traced back to IMV's lab in Madison, WI. As a result, the moderate risk based on A/H1N1's characteristics and potential threat especially to a generation that has never endured a pandemic and those with pre-existing medical conditions (asthma and other respiratory disorders, diabetes, heart problems, immune deficiency disorders, and pregnancy, to name a few) whose immune systems are ill-prepared or equipped to recognize and combat the novel strain, respectively, must be taken seriously. At the writing of this article, this is not being done (e.g. The New York City Department of Health stated on its website as late as June 25, 2009 - "Most cases of influenza-like illness do not need to be tested for H1N1" even though seasonal influenza has disappeared for the summer, failure to isolate suspected emergency room cases facilitating contagion, etc.). Continued failure to do so may result in between 1 million (based on a .25% mortality rate on existing WHO estimates that up to a third of the world's population may be infected) to 25 million or more deaths since people will be treated much further into the illness (after serious complications have developed) and/or if the virus mutates into a more lethal form resulting in a 1+% mortality rate that is already being exhibited in Argentina, a country that has just entered the winter season.

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