Is The Swine Flu The Start Of Armageddon?
Swine Flu-
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).
Of the three genera of human flu, two are endemic also in swine:
Influenzavirus A is common and Influenzavirus C is rare.[1] Influenzavirus B
has not been reported in swine. Within Influenzavirus A and Influenzavirus C,
the strains endemic to swine and humans are largely distinct.
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. However,
these strains infrequently circulate between humans as SIV rarely mutates into
a form able to pass easily from human to human. 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 2009 flu outbreak in humans is due to a new strain of
influenza A virus subtype H1N1 that derives in part from human influenza, avian
influenza, and two separate strains of swine influenza. The origins of this new
strain are unknown, and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) reports
that it has not been isolated in swine.[2] It passes with apparent ease from
human to human, an ability attributed to an as-yet unidentified mutation.[3]
The strain 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.[4]