What is the swine flu you might ask? Well the swine flu is a type of flu that is very common in pigs or otherwise known as "swine." The swine flu has symptoms that are similar to the regular flu. Even though it is quite rare for a human to have swine flu, it is possible for a human to contract the swine flu when exposed to swine. In order for the swine flu to be transmitted from human to human, the strain has to be mutated in such a way that it can be easily transmitted among us humans.
That is why it is believed that the swine flu outbreak facing us in 2009 is due to a mutated strain of swine flu. The human form of this flu is called swine flu because scientists have discovered that this strain of flu is similar to the swine flu commonly found in pigs. This flu has raised an alert by the World Health Organization to have a Phase 4 Pandemic Alert.
How would you defend from this swine flu you might ask? Well the Centers for Disease Control and for Prevention have said that the drugs, Tamiflu, and Relenza, helps in the treatment and prevent of swine flu. But the most effective way of preventing the swine flu from spreading would be to wash your hands very frequently with a generous amount of soap. There are still no vaccines yet, but they are said to be in development and to be ready by June 2009.
Symptoms of Swine Flu
The swine flu as we call it is a disease that usually resides in pigs. But this new strain of swine flu goes by the name of H1N1, and has a mixture viruses from pigs and humans making it very susceptible for humans. The symptoms of swine flu are a sudden fever, coughing, extreme fatigue, muscle aches, diarrhea, and vomiting.
With this new strain of the swine flu, it can transmit from human to humans. It is said that this was a result of a mutation of the regular swine flu making it able to be contracted by humans. For now there is no vaccine out there yet, but in a few months we should have a vaccine ready to be used. But medicines like Tamiflu and Relenza are quite effective at counteracting this flu if taken initially.
So will it be safe to eat pork meats? Yes, it is perfectly safe to eat them as the swine flu can’t be contracted through consumption. But always make sure to cook the pork that you are eating at temperatures over 70 degrees Celsius in order to kill any other bacteria or viruses that is within the meat.
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