SWINE FLU Fast facts

The symptoms of swine flu are the same as symptoms of regular seasonal influenza: They can include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite, coughing, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, chills, aches, vomiting and diarrhea. There are also ways swine flu differs from other flu strains.

Influenza A (H1N1): Swine flu is a new flu virus of swine origin that was first detected in April. It is infecting people and spreading from person to person, mainly through the coughs and sneezes of people who are sick with the virus. It is considered a pandemic because the strain has never been seen before. As a consequence, people have not developed antibodies and have no natural immunity, leaving everybody susceptible and making it easier to spread. Currently, there is no vaccine to protect against this virus.

Avian (bird) flu: Avian influenza virus usually refers to influenza A viruses found chiefly in birds, but infections can occur in humans. The risk is generally low to most people, because the viruses do not usually infect humans. Cases of human infection have been reported primarily in people living in close proximity with infected birds.

Asian flu: The Asian flu, and others, get their names from where there is an outbreak. Because the winter or seasonal flu season in places such as Asia and Australia is during the United States summer, the flu viruses strikes there first and take their names from those areas it is discovered.

Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. John Venglarcik, medical director for the Mahoning County District Board of Health