Talk:Swine flu

Moving unreferenced (and strangely formatted) text here. -- 16:09, 5 May 2009 (EDT)

Swine influenza virus (referred to as SIV) refers to influenza cases that are caused by Orthomyxoviruses that are endemic to pig populations. SIV strains isolated to date have been classified either as Influenzavirus C or one of the various subtypes of the genus Influenzavirus A. Swine influenza is known to be caused by influenza A subtypes H1N1, H1N2, H3N1, H3N2, and H2N3. In swine, three influenza A virus subtypes (H1N1, H3N2, and H1N2) are circulating throughout the world. In the United States, the H1N1 subtype was exclusively prevalent among swine populations before 1998; however, since late August 1998, H3N2 subtypes have been isolated from pigs. As of 2004, H3N2 virus isolates in US swine and turkey stocks were triple reassortants, containing genes from human (HA, NA, and PB1), swine (NS, NP, and M), and avian (PB2 and PA) lineages.  1918 Spanish Flu Pandemic The 1918 flu pandemic (commonly referred to as the Spanish flu) was an influenza pandemic that spread to nearly every part of the world. It was caused by an unusually virulent and deadly Influenza A virus strain of subtype H1N1.  1976 U.S. Outbreak On February 5, 1976, an army recruit at Fort Dix said he felt tired and weak. He died the next day and four of his fellow soldiers were later hospitalized. Two weeks after his death, health officials announced that swine flu was the cause of death and that this strain of flu appeared to be closely related to the strain involved in the 1918 flu pandemic. Alarmed public-health officials decided that action must be taken to head off another major pandemic, and they urged President Gerald Ford that every person in the U.S. be vaccinated for the disease. The vaccination program was plagued by delays and public relations problems, but about 24% of the population had been vaccinated by the time the program was canceled. About 500 cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome, resulting in death from severe pulmonary complications for 25 people, were probably caused by an immunopathological reaction to the 1976 vaccine. Other influenza vaccines have not been linked to Guillain-Barré syndrome, though caution is advised for certain individuals, particularly those with a history of GBS.  2009 World Swine Flu Outbreak The new strain of influenza involved in the 2009 swine flu outbreak strain is a reassortment of several strains of influenza A virus subtype H1N1 that are, separately, endemic in humans and in swine. Preliminary genetic characterization found that the hemagglutinin (HA) gene was similar to that of swine flu viruses present in U.S. pigs since 1999, but the neuraminidase (NA) and matrix protein (M) genes resembled versions present in European swine flu isolates. Viruses with this genetic makeup had not previously been found to be circulating in humans or pigs, but there is no formal national surveillance system to determine what viruses are circulating in pigs in the U.S. The origins of this new strain remain unknown. One theory is that Asian and European strains traveled to Mexico in migratory birds or in people, then combined with North American strains in Mexican pig factory farms before jumping over to farm workers. The Mexican health agency acknowledged that the original disease vector of the virus may have been flies multiplying in manure lagoons of pig farms near Perote, Veracruz, owned by Granjas Carroll, a subsidiary of Smithfield Foods.  Countries: Australia: "Five being tested for swine flu in NSW" -27 Apr 2009 Canada: "Health officials confirm 6 cases of swine flu in Canada" -April 27, 2009 China: "Report: China bans media from 'swine flu' sites,"Death toll hits 34; number of confirmed cases jumps to 174" -July 31, 2005 France: "Two suspected cases of swine flu in France: official" -April 26, 2009 Israel: "2 Suspected Cases of Swine Flu Reach Israel" -April 27, '09  Mexico: "Mexico flu deaths raise fears of global epidemic" -April 24, 2009  New Zealand: "Swine Flu cases confirmed in New Zealand, suspected cases in Israel, France & Spain" -April 26, 2009   Scotland: "Two cases of swine flu confirmed in Scotland" -April 27, 2009 Spain: "Swine flu case confirmed in Spain" -27 April 2009 Taiwan: "Taiwan checks suspected cases of swine flu" -April 27th 2009 U.S.A: "Swine Flu: U.S. Declares Public Health Emergency" -April 26, 2009  Other Swine Flu Information "NY Cemeteries Survey" -April 4th 2007 "Plans for Mass Graves Confirmed: Government Surveying Cemetery Readiness for Flu Outbreak" -April 3, 2009 "Do Not Take A Swine Flu Vaccine!" -April 26, 2009 "The Avian Swine Flu Strain Created in the Lab? On Purpose? Who Benefits?"