Swine flu is one of those diseases that affects animals but which can mutate and be transmitted to humans. The disease is similar in characteristics with other influenza diseases. And just like other disease that affects the respiratory system, death from the diseased comes gradually especially if the condition is not treated immediately. In humans, the swine flu virus can mutate to become the h1n1 flu virus that caused a global alarm early this year. As a matter of fact, aside from this year’s scare, swine flu outbreaks have caused extensive damage, most notably in the years 1918, 1976, and 1998.
Even though reports say that swine flu may be like the seasonal flu that often occurs in humans, we cannot really say that this is one type of disease that is alright to overlook with. H1N1 or swine flu is definitely not the ordinary flu since it was contracted from pigs. It is extremely necessary to watch out against this infectious disease.
Transmission Of The Swine Flu Virus
Statistics reveal that swine flu transmission has grown so quick compared with its first major outbreak in early 1990s. In June 2009, it was reported that the virus reached seventy-four countries in all continents except in Antarctica, and lately in September, the influenza A(H1N1) virus has been reported occurring in most countries in the world.
One thing that is alarming about swine flu is that the disease is not confined to animals alone. It can affect humans as well. As such, influenza a swine flu is a serious threat to poultry workers, livestock tenders, and those who are involved in the raising and production of animals. These people are the ones who are exposed to the greater risk of contracting the virus. As such, vaccination is an important step that should be taken to regulate or contain the virus. If not, then these people constitute a host population for the virus that can then be spread among humans through various means.