Q&A On Swine Flu by BBC

SWINE FLU - THE BASICS

- Symptoms usually similar to seasonal flu - but deaths recorded in Mexico

- It is a new version of the H1N1 strain which caused the 1918 flu pandemic

- Too early to say whether it will lead to a pandemic

- Current treatments do work, but there is no vaccine

- Good personal hygiene, such as washing hands, covering nose when sneezing advised


How dangerous is it?
Symptoms of swine flu in humans appear to be similar to those produced by standard, seasonal flu.
These include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, chills and fatigue.
It is worth remembering that seasonal flu often poses a serious threat to public health: each year it kills 250,000 - 500,000 around the world.

So far, most cases of swine flu around the world appear to be mild, albeit with diarrhoea more common than is found with seasonal flu.

But lives have been lost in Mexico, and a single death - of a Mexican child - has been confirmed in the US.


WHO Pandemic Alert Phases

Phase 1: No infections in humans are being caused by viruses circulating in animals.

Phase 2: Animal flu virus causes infection in humans, and is a potential pandemic threat.

Phase 3: Flu causes sporadic cases in people, but no significant human-to-human transmission.

Phase 4: Human-to-human transmission and community-level outbreaks.

Phase 5: Human-to-human transmission in at least two countries. Strong signal pandemic imminent.

Phase 6: Virus spreads to another country in a different region. Global pandemic under way.

Post-peak: Pandemic activity appears to be decreasing though second wave possible.

Post-pandemic: activity returns to normal, seasonal flu levels.

For full article, please visit: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8021958.stm