Swine flu

A new strain of a influenza A virus subtype H1N1, first identified in Mexico in April 2009. It is considered four types strains of influenza A virus:

• One endemic in (normally infecting) humans
• One endemic in birds
• Two endemic in pigs ( cooked pork products safe to eat as the virus cannot be transmitted by eating foods)

The virus "most likely" emerged from pigs in Asia, and was carried to North America by infected persons. In Mexico, the outbreak began and was already in the midst of an epidemic for months. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak to be a pandemic in June.

Swine flu spreads from coughs and sneezes or by touching contaminated surfaces and then touching the nose or mouth. The virus was spreading with "unprecedented speed". WHO does not expect to have a full vaccine before the end of 2009 and vaccines available sooner may be limited to:

Priority groups to receive the novel H1N1 vaccine

On July 29, 2009, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)—an advisory committee to CDC—recommended that novel H1N1 flu vaccine be made available first to the following five groups (News Release):

•Pregnant women
•Health care workers and emergency medical responders
•People caring for infants under 6 months of age Children and young adults from 6 months to 24 years
•People aged 25 to 64 years with underlying medical conditions (e.g. asthma, diabetes)
•Combined, these groups would equal approximately 159 million individuals.

Vaccination is one of the most effective ways to minimize suffering and death from influenza. Research efforts have led to the developments of seed vaccine for H1N1 flu (swine flu) and of a vaccine for one of the two strains of the H5N1 flu in humans. In the event of a pandemic, it could take months to develop an effective vaccine. Federal officials have drafted a plan that spells out who gets priority for the first vaccinations.

Research continues into effective antivirals, seeking medications that can reduce the severity of an influenza attack. Antivirals are drugs that are used to prevent or cure a disease caused by a virus, by interfering with the ability of the virus to multiply in number or spread from cell to cell. Recent increases in the number and promotion of antiviral drugs for influenza have increased interest in the role of specific antiviral drugs for treatment of the flu. Use of antiviral drugs does not eliminate the risk of complications, and some complications can be life threatening

Swine Flu may Kill 100 Million People?

The Mexico City Swine Flu is a highly dangerous challenge for humanity in that it is a re-combined virus made up of many strains that affects multiple species including pigs, birds and humans. But the chances of European, Asian bird and swine flu combining are, well, like 1/10 Th of 1 percent chance in nature. If it spreads around the world you will see hundreds of millions of people get infected," the WHO's Dr. Keiji Fukuda told a news briefing.

The virus is 10% to 15% deadly and that healthy adults are the most likely to die from it,

"Swine flu, dubbed Spanish flu, killed 50 million people worldwide in 1918."

U.S. and Canadian pig and pork exports have been hit by bans from Russia to Ecuador that rattled the $26 billion-a-year global pork industry, in which Mexico, the United States and Canada are among top exporters.