Swine Influenza information

Swine Influenza – Facts and Information

The current deadly, contagious outbreak of swine flu has begun setting off fears of a pandemic and raised many questions. The internet has an enormous amount of information available, some of which is conflicting and confusing. This document contains basic information and links to authorised web sites concerning Swine Influenza.

The World Health Organisation has released the following information about what Swine Flu actually is:

What is swine influenza?

Swine influenza, or “swine flu”, is a highly contagious acute respiratory disease of pigs, caused by one of several swine influenza A viruses. Morbidity tends to be high and mortality low (1-4%). The virus is spread among pigs by aerosols, direct and indirect contact, and asymptomatic carrier

pigs. Outbreaks in pigs occur year round, with an increased incidence in the fall and winter in

temperate zones. Many countries routinely vaccinate swine populations against swine influenza.

Swine influenza viruses are most commonly of the H1N1 subtype, but other subtypes are also

circulating in pigs (e.g., H1N2, H3N1, H3N2). Pigs can also be infected with avian influenza viruses

and human seasonal influenza viruses as well as swine influenza viruses. The H3N2 swine virus was thought to have been originally introduced into pigs by humans. Sometimes pigs can be infected with more than one virus type at a time, which can allow the genes from these viruses to mix. This can result in an influenza virus containing genes from a number of sources, called a "reassortant" virus.

Although swine influenza viruses are normally species specific and only infect pigs, they do

sometimes cross the species barrier to cause disease in humans.

Check out the following sites for more information concerning Swine Influenza.

Victorian Government Online http://www.vic.gov.au/news-detail/human-swine-flu-h1n1-influenza.html

WHO – World Health Organisation http://www.who.int/en/

Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing – Health Emergency

http://www.healthemergency.gov.au/internet/healthemergency/publishing.nsf/content/home-1

Smartraveller: The Australian Government's travel advisory and consular assistance service

http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/

US Government Swine, Avian and Pandemic Flu Information

http://www.pandemicflu.gov/