Tamiflu can reduce the severity of Swine Flu and help limit its spread.

Useful Information

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the Mexican/US swine flu outbreak as a "public health emergency of international concern".

What is swine flu?

Swine flu is a type A influenza virus present in pigs. Human infection is usually uncommon except among people who work and live closely with pigs.

What is unusual about the present strain?

The new strain is a hybrid of swine, human and avian flu viruses which can spread from human to human but the level of virulence is not yet clear.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms are similar to regular human flu: fever and chills, a cough, sore throat, aching limbs, headaches, and general malaise. However, there are reports of swine flu also causing diarrhoea and vomiting. Pneumonia and respiratory failure can occur leading to death as also happens in regular human flu, which kills thousands of people every year.

Are there warning signs in children?

Children having trouble breathing, being averse to drinking, lethargy, not waking up or not interacting, being so irritable that the child does not want to be held, flu-like symptoms that improve but then return with fever and a worse cough, fever with a rash.

How can we prevent the spread of swine flu?

People at risk should cover their mouth when they cough. They should regularly wash their hands with an alcohol-based cleaner and avoid close contact with the sick. Patients with the disease should stay at home. There is no need to avoid eating pork.

Will there be a global flu epidemic?

"We do not know whether this swine flu virus or some other influenza virus will lead to the next pandemic," say leading scientists. "However, scientists around the world continue to monitor the virus and take its threat seriously."

Are there any drugs to treat swine flu?

Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza) are the possible pharmaceutical frontline defence and are proving effective in treating patients diagnosed early enough. There is no vaccine.

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