Worried about 'Swine flu'?

'Swine flu' is only spread in few countries but in the whole world people are worried about this new disease. Many of us are searching the world wide web to get information about this epidemic. I have compiled few basic information about swine flu in this article along with few useful resources to learn more about this disease.

We know that in humans, the symptoms of swine flu are similar to those of influenza and of influenza-like illness in general, namely chills, fever, sore throat, muscle pains, severe headache, coughing, weakness and general discomfort. The strain responsible for the 2009 swine flu outbreak in most cases causes only mild symptoms and the infected person makes a full recovery without requiring medical attention and without the use of antiviral medicines.

Definition of Wikipedia says: Swine influenza (also swine flu) refers to influenza caused by any strain of the influenza virus endemic in pigs (swine). Strains endemic in swine are called swine influenza virus (SIV)

Swine flu is common in swine and rare in humans. People who work with swine, especially people with intense exposures, are at risk of catching swine influenza if the swine carry a strain able to infect humans.

Good news is that the majority of people infected with the virus make a full recovery without requiring medical attention or antiviral drugs. If a person gets sick, antiviral drugs can make the illness milder and make the patient feel better faster

For treatment, antiviral drugs work best if started soon after getting sick (within 2 days of symptoms).

Related and useful posts:

* 'Swine flu'

* Strengthen Your Immune System with Natural Immune Boosters
* Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - Swine Flu
* World Health Organization (WHO): Swine influenza
* Medical Encyclopedia Medline Plus: Swine Flu

* Swine Flu: 14 things you need to know to keep your family safe

Latest from 'reuters': The World Health Organization said on Wednesday it was moving closer to declaring a pandemic alert phase 5 for swine flu.

"It appears we are moving closer to that, but we are not there yet," Keiji Fukuda, WHO acting assistant director-general, said, adding that moving to phase 5 from the current phase 4 would be a significant step.

The WHO has said it might raise its pandemic alert level to phase five -- the second highest -- if it were confirmed that infected people in at least two countries were spreading the disease to other people in a sustained way.