Swine flu or H1N1 is part of the influenza A family of viruses. Influenza viruses infect the cells lining your nose, throat and lungs. The virus enters your body when you inhale contaminated droplets or transfer live virus from a contaminated surface to your eyes, nose or mouth.
Swine flu or H1N1 is part of the influenza A family of viruses. Influenza viruses infect the cells lining your nose, throat and lungs. The virus enters your body when you inhale contaminated droplets or transfer live virus from a contaminated surface to your eyes, nose or mouth.
Though H1N1 is called swine flu, you can't catch swine flu from eating pork. The air-borne virus is harboured in pigs and spreads to human beings through animal-human interaction.
What you need to know about the disease?
1. Is it caused by pigs?
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Though H1N1 is called swine flu, you can't catch swine flu from eating pork. The air-borne virus is harboured in pigs and spreads to human beings through animal-human interaction.
2. Symptoms
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Symptoms: Swine flu symptoms develop about one to three days after one is exposed to the virus and continue for about seven days.
Fever
Cough
Sore throat
Runny or stuffy nose
Body ache
Headache
Chills
Fatigue
Diarrhoea
Vomiting
3. Dos and Don'ts
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Cover mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze
Wash your hands with soap or use sanitiser
Avoid touching your nose, eyes and mouth
Drink plenty of water and have nutritious food
Sleep for 8 hours every night
Avoid handshakes/contact greetings
Avoid self-medication
4. High-risk groups are...
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Those younger than 5 years, particularly two-year-olds
Those aged 65 and above
Pregnant women, including women who have had a miscarriage
Those aged 19 or below, and those who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy
Those who have certain chronic medical conditions, including asthma, emphysema, heart disease, diabetes, neuromuscular disease, obesity, and kidney, liver or blood disease
Those who are immuno-suppressed due to certain medications or HIV
5. What you need to know
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It mimics normal flu symptoms, with the patient beginning to have dry cough, fever, headache and throat irritation. Subsequently, the symptoms may worsen to cause breathlessness
It spreads from one human being to another via air. When an infected person sneezes or coughs, micro droplets are liberated in the environment which may infect those who come in contact with the infected person
