H1N1 Swine Flu is an infection caused by a type of flu (influenza) virus. It is called swine flu because it is similar to a flu virus that affects pigs and swine. The virus leads to lung disease in pigs, and in humans, swine flu causes a respiratory infection.
In 1918, a flu pandemic caused by a strain of H1N1 infected 500 million people worldwide. It was known as the Spanish flu, and at least 50 million people died.
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2009 Swine Flu - Where It Started
In April 2009, researchers discovered a new strain of H1N1. It was first detected in the U.S., and it spread quickly around the world because it was a new type of flu virus. Young people were not immune to the new virus, while older people had some immunity.
The possibility is that older individuals had exposure to an older strain of H1N1, which helped protect them against the newer strain.
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When Did the Swine Flu (H1N1) Pandemic End?
The WHO announced that the pandemic was over in August 2010. However, people can still get and spread H1N1, as it is now one of the seasonal flu viruses. It can cause illness, hospitalization, and even death.
What Causes Swine Flu (H1N1)?
A virus causes swine flu (H1N1). It spreads from person to person when an infected individual coughs or sneezes, releasing droplets into the air. You can get the infection by breathing in these droplets.
You can also get infected if you touch a contaminated surface and then touch your mouth, nose, or eyes.
Symptoms of H1N1 Swine Flu
The symptoms of H1N1 swine flu include:
- Fever
- Chills
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Body or muscle aches
- Headache
- Fatigue
Patients may also face difficulty breathing, trouble waking up, and fever accompanied by rashes. While the virus was considered to be eradicated a few months back, a new report has established that a 75-year-old woman has died. As per reports, she had underlying health issues. It has been reported that she had a rare strain of bird flu previously only reported in animals, state health officials said. This is the second human fatality linked to the virus in the United States this year.
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