It has now been reported in five states- the latest incident, as close as Ohio.
City health officials say it's only a matter of time before the disease comes to Chicago, so the Department of Public Health is providing us with the following facts.
What is it?
Swine flu is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by the type A influenza viruses. Most commonly, human cases of swine flu happen in people who are around pigs, but it can spread from person to person as well.
Signs and symptoms?
It manifests similarly to the regular flu- with symptoms that include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headaches, chills and fatigue. It can also include diarrhea and vomiting.
How do you catch it?
There are two ways. One is through contact with infected pigs, the other is through contact with a person with swine flu. It can NOT be passed through pork or pork products.
How do you treat it?
The CDC recommends the use of Tamiflu or Relenza for the treatment and prevention of infection with swine flu viruses.
For more info, visit these sites:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Swine Flu
World Health Organization: Swine Influenza
