How Does Swine Flu Spread?
There is so much talk these days about swine flu.
You may have heard the basics-such as what it is and where it came
from-perhaps even how to avoid it; but few know exactly how the
swine flu spreads-among swine, among humans, pig to human, or all of
the above. In this article, we give you a basic overview of how the
swine flu virus spreads and has spread in order to help better
educate you on how to prevent contraction for you and your family’s
future health.
Pig to Pig
Ok…so first things first: how does swine flu
spread from pig to pig? If this is the first you’ve heard of swine
flu-in this recent epidemic-you may be wondering if swine flu is new
and how it spreads among pigs. Swine flu is not new actually-it has
been a problem among pigs for as long as pigs have been in
existence. Every year there is a swine flu virus outbreak-usually
late Fall to early Winter-and many farmers and herders vaccinate
their pigs accordingly to avoid illness in their swine. Pigs work in
much the same way as humans when it comes to viruses-when one has
the virus, it only takes close contact to pass it on.
Pig to Human
So, how did it spread to humans, you may be
wondering. Unfortunately, without proper vaccination of pig herds, a
farmer can be just as susceptible to contracting swine viruses from
their pigs as pigs are. This relies, of course, on how much contact
there is between the farmer and the pigs-but in many cases, close
and constant contact is common, in order to take care of them
properly. Passing from one species to another presents a huge
problem though, because the nature of all viruses is to create new
virus strains when faced with different species.
  
Swine Flu Spread from Human to Human
Lastly, the manner in which the swine flu virus-or
any virus-can spread from human to human works in the exact manner
that any flu virus works: through close contact. More
specifically, humans touching others or objects that others have
touched, and then touching their faces will get the virus. Though it
seems unlikely that you may do this-everyone does without even
thinking about.
Recommended Reading:
What is Swine Flu
(Influenza A H1N1)?
Swine Flu
and WHO's Pandemic Scale
Do I Need Mask for
Swine Flu Protection?
Symptoms
of Swine Flu - Fever, Fatigue, Diarrhea and More
Swine Flu
Prevention Tips
How Does
Swine Flu Spread?
What to Do if You
Think You Have Swine Flu
Swine Respiratory Disease -
Swine Flu in Pigs
Swine Flu
in Humans
How Many
Swine Viruses Are There?
The 1918 Spanish Flu Pandemic (new)
Swine Flu
Treatment - Tamiflu, Relenza Antiviral (new)
No Swine Flu from Eating Pork,
Safe to Eat
(new)
Cold vs Flu - Major Differences
Between Cold and Flu (new)
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