Swine Flu Pandemics
What exactly is swine flu and how is it affecting us?
Swine influenza is a disease that started our primarily in pigs hence the name swine flu. The virus that is currently transmitting itself amongst humans is now generally referred to as swine flu although strictly speaking is a mutation of the original virus and although whilst technically part of the same family technically of viruses and infections it is effectively a new virus. Although the origin of the disease is still under investigation at this moment in time, there is actually no factual or independent evidence of this strain of the disease circulating in the farming stock of pigs in the UK.
There are regular outbreaks of swine influenza in pigs worldwide. It does not normally infect humans, although this occasionally does occur – usually in people who have had close contact with pigs.
Swine influenza viruses are usually of the H1N1 subtype. The swine flu that has spread to humans is a version of this virus.
Further information