- Swine flu cases has been on a rise in Gujarat. Of late, nearly 100 new cases are reported from across the state per day.
- Swine flu is a highly contagious acute respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza virus. Swine flu viruses do not normally infect humans. However, sporadic human infections with swine flu have occurred. Most commonly, these cases occur in people with direct exposure to pigs. However, there have been cases of human-to-human spread of swine flu.
- H1N1 virus is spread from person to person, similar to seasonal influenza viruses. It is transmitted to other people by exposure to infected droplets expelled by coughing or sneezing, or through contact to contaminate hands or surfaces.
- Swine origin influenza (H1N1) among humans was first recognized in the border area of Mexico and United States in April 2009 and soon spread to other places. The WHO declared H1N1 swine flu a pandemic in June 2009 when swine flu cases were identified in 74 countries. It lasted till 2010. H1N1 has continued to circulate as a seasonal virus.
- A pandemic is the worldwide spread of a new disease. An influenza pandemic occurs when a new influenza virus emerges and spreads around the world, and most people do not have immunity.
