Swine flu is a disease that affects pigs and is a highly contagious type of respiratory disease caused by a version of the influenza A virus. Typically, swine flu is of the subtype designated as H1N1, and this is also the subtype that is currently affecting humans.

H1N1 Swine Flu Virus

Although swine flu normally affects pigs, it can sometimes jump to a different species, which is what has happened with humans. Symptoms of swine flu are, on the whole, very similar to normal seasonal influenza outbreaks in humans and can range between no symptoms at all or very mild symptoms, to severe and even fatal pneumonia. Because these symptoms are similar to the normal flu symptoms, swine flu is almost impossible to distinguish from normal flu, unless specifically looked for by a doctor.

Humans can catch swine flu either by contact with pigs that are infected, which is the most common way, and contact with humans that are infected, which is less common. For human to human infection to occur, very close contact needs to occur between the two parties.

Swine Flu Symptoms

The symptoms of swine flu in humans is very similar to normal influenza symptoms, as mentioned above, and these can be aches, chills, coughing, diarrhea, headache, sore throat, fever, fatigue and vomiting. Most previous cases of swine flu in humans has cleared up without any medical assistance, but there are a couple of drugs that are successful in treating the condition – adamantanes and inhibitors of influenza neuraminidase.