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Is swine flu dangerous to humans?
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Swine flu is a contagious disease in pigs caused by an influenza virus. The H1N2 virus is one of the major subtypes of the swine flu virus. Occasionally people also become infected with the H1N2 swine flu virus. This usually happens after direct or indirect exposure to pigs or contaminated environments. Since 2005, approximately fifty cases of H1N2 transmission to humans have been reported. Most of those infections caused mild symptoms, but some cases turned out to be serious.
What is swine flu?
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Swine flu is caused by an influenza virus type A. There are different types of influenza viruses that can cause swine flu. H1N1, H1N2 and H3N2 are the major subtypes of swine influenza A viruses in pigs.
In the Netherlands there are regular outbreaks of swine flu among pigs. Some influenza viruses can spread from pigs to humans, although this is not common. This is usually only seen in people who often come into contact with pigs.
Also read: Swine flu: What you definitely need to know about Mexican flu
Symptoms of swine flu in humans
Infection with a swine flu virus manifests itself as flu-like symptoms, such as:
FeverColdCoughSorethroatHeadacheMuscle painFatigueThe complaints are usually mild and go away on their own after one to two weeks. In people with underlying conditions, the virus can be more serious – just like with the seasonal flu.
Also read: How dangerous is flu?
How do you get swine flu?
People do not often become infected with the swine flu virus. Over the past twenty years, a few cases of this virus came to light by chance. These were people who often come into contact with pigs.
You can reduce the risk of contamination by applying hygiene measures, such as washing hands after contact with pigs and not eating near pigs. The virus is only present in the pig’s respiratory tract, so not in the pork. So you cannot become infected with the virus by eating pork. Pigs with swine flu are not killed.
Also read: What is best to disinfect your hands: soap or disinfectant gel?
Is swine flu dangerous?
Human-to-human transmission can occur, but this is very rare. “Nevertheless, cases of swine flu in humans are always investigated, because in very rare cases a new flu virus can arise that can make people sick,” the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment writes on its website.
This happened, for example, in 2009, probably in South America. It caused a pandemic with the influenza virus A(H1N1)pdm09, often called Mexican flu. The swine flu also caused fatalities in Belgium. The swine flu viruses that have appeared in people in our area in recent years are not related to that virus.
Also read: Mexican flu (swine flu): the most frequently asked questions
Sources:
Last updated: November 2023
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2023-11-30 23:04:59
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