Swine Flu & You

What is a SWINE FLU?

Swine influenza is a respiratory disease of pigs first isolated in swine in 1930, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The illness is caused by four different type A influenza strains that can cause outbreaks in pigs, though subtypes H1N1 and H3N2 seem to be more common.

The death rate among pigs is low, with most infections occurring in the late fall and winter. Symptoms of infected pigs include fever, depression, coughing (barking), sneezing, difficulty   breathing, red or inflamed eyes, lack of appetite and discharge from the nose or eyes.

H1N1 in SINGAPORE

The H1N1 virus continues its spread in Singapore.The Health Ministry confirmed 95 new cases on Thursday, raising the total infected to 315. About half of the new cases have been investigated and they comprise 25 local infections and 22 imported ones.Of the 25 new local infections, 10 are Butter Factory nightspot patrons and staff, four are from the Maju Camp cluster and two caught the virus from close contact with imported cases.Nine are linked to a new Republic Polytechnic cluster, which had three previous cases.

The remaining 48 new cases are still being investigated.

First swine flu death confirmed in Guatemala

A 35-year-old man has become Guatemala's first government-confirmed swine flu fatality, health officials said on Thursday.The World Health Organization (WHO) recorded the 12-year-old's death as Guatemala's first fatality from swine flu, despite the government's position.

The Health Ministry said the 35-year-old man did not respond to anti-viral treatment because he was diagnosed with swine flu in its late stages.

Guatemala, which has so far confirmed 254 cases of swine flu, shares a border with Mexico, where the global pandemic began. Cases of swine flu peaked in Mexico in April, but the virus has continued to spread worldwide.

Figures issued by the WHO on Wednesday showed 55,867 laboratory-confirmed cases of the A(H1N1) virus in 109 countries and territories.