How does swine flu spread?

By: Kriti Saraswat | | Updated: March 4, 2015 1:24 pm

The swine flu scare in the country is only increasing just as the death toll is (see latest update). As the number rises, more and more number of people fear contracting the virus. You too are one of them and want to know what causes it. Here s what you need to know: Also Read - Ganesh Chaturthi 2020: 4 reasons an eco-friendly Ganesha is good for you

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A respiratory illness, swine flu is caused by the swine influenza virus (SIV) sub type H1N1. Earlier, it was caused when humans came in touch with pigs that were infected with this virus. However, the virus mutated in the course of time and now, it can easily spread from one human (who is infected with the virus) to the other. This means that pigs do not cause the disease and it spreads from humans. Read to know if swine flu is completely curable. Also Read - Spanish flu: 4 ways to limit its spread

Ways swine flu can spread:

Swine flu spreads easily just like any other flu virus. Therefore it is important to be careful. Here are a few preventive measures to keep in mind. Here s how it spreads:

By coming in contact with a person affected with the virus.
By inhaling droplets present in the air when the person suffering from swine flu sneezes or coughs.
By touching surfaces such as laptops, phones, railing, etc. that the person infected with the virus has touched, as droplets can settle on them.
Touching your eyes, face and nose after being exposed to the virus.

Who is more at risk?

Though swine flu can be easily contracted, there are certain people who are more likely get it than others. These include:

Pregnant women
Children below two years of age
Elderly people above the age of 65
People who suffer from other respiratory illness
People who have a weak immune system and fall ill too often

The risk is also higher when you are in a large gathering as it is easier for the virus to spread in a crowd. Read Government bans people to gather in large groups in Ahmedabad.

A word of caution

Says Dr Bharat Jagiasi, Most of the times swine flu is mild and most people recover without even seeing a doctor. So in majority of patients, it goes unnoticed. But when the trouble lasts longer and situation becomes serious, test for swine flu is done. Few of these patients turn out to be positive for H1N1. People may be infected with the flu and have respiratory symptoms without a fever. Those who are infected are contagious from a day prior to the sickness and continue to do so 5-7 days after illness. It may last longer in patients with poor immunity. Also read these common symptoms of swine flu.

When should you go to a doctor?

According to Dr Vineet Arora, senior consultant – internal medicine, Max Super Specialty Hospital, Delhi, ‘One of the indicators is any fever that hasn’t subsided even after 2-3 days. In my experience, any patient who is suffering from swine flu has more severe symptoms than the normal flu. For instance, their fever does not subside after three days, the cough is more severe, they have a runny nose. Other constitutional symptoms are bodyache, abdominal pain, loose motions, etc. So basically if the symptoms are more dominating than the usual flu then they should consult a doctor.’ Can one lead a normal life after recovering from swine flu?

So make sure you wash your hands properly with an antibacterial soap and use a tissue if you have cold and cough. If there is swine flu prevalent in your area, you can even wear a surgical mask. Here is all that you need to know about the treatments and medications of swine flu

Image source: Getty Images

Published : February 25, 2015 6:14 pm | Updated:March 4, 2015 1:24 pm

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