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Swine flu, or to give it its correct name 'influenza A virus subtype H1N1' is an acute respiratory disease, transmitted between humans, which was identified in April this year.
It is thought to be a mutation of four known strains of the virus one of which is endemic in humans, one in birds and two in pigs.
The current H1N1 virus contains genetic elements from all of them and has been called by the American Centres for Disease Control 'an unusually mongrelised mix of genetic sequences'.
Unlike the seasonal influenza which occurs every year, this is a new virus so humans have little or no immunity to it and there is, so far, no vaccine - though one is expected to be available later in the year.
As of June 15 the World Health Organisation (WHO) stated that 76 countries have officially reported 35,928 cases of infection including 163 deaths and these numbers are rising.
Bahrain recently had 15 people undergoing treatment for the disease, seven of them students who had returned from a course in the USA. All have recovered and been released following treatment.
The new influenza appears to be as contagious as seasonal influenza and is spreading fast among young people, between the ages of 10 and 45, including those who have previously been healthy. But like any other virus it is also particularly dangerous to the very young, the elderly and those already vulnerable through ill health.
Symptoms include fever, cough, headache, muscle and joint pain, sore throat, runny nose and sometimes vomiting and diarrhoea.
The severity of the disease ranges from very mild symptoms to severe illnesses which can result in death, however the majority of those who contract the virus experience the milder disease and recover.
The virus is transmitted by exposure to infected droplets expelled through coughing and sneezing which can be inhaled by those in close contact and can also contaminate hands or nearby surfaces.
There are no known instances of people becoming infected by exposure to pigs or other animals and, despite some countries banning pork imports.
The best way to protect yourself and others is to follow good hygiene rules, particularly using clean tissues whenever you cough and sneeze and anyone experiencing the above symptoms should seek medical advice.
