Health Information and Self Care Advice for Scotland

Swine Flu

Introduction

Swine flu is a form of influenza that originated in pigs but can be caught by, and spread among, people.

Swine flu is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses. Outbreaks of swine flu happen regularly in pigs. People do not normally get swine influenza, though infections do sometimes happen. In the recent past, most human cases of swine influenza have been in people who were in close contact with pigs, such as farmers. In the current outbreak the virus has been spread by person-to-person contact.

The swine flu situation is changing quickly.  For the most up to date information please visit the World Health Organisation (WHO) website in Selected Links.  They provide information on the countries with laboratory confirmed cases of swine influenza A/H1N1 infection.

For information on Swine Flu in Scotland visit Health Protection Scotland.

The current outbreak could become a pandemic flu - a global outbreak of flu that spreads quickly because it is a new type of virus that few, if any, people have resistance to.

A flu pandemic is a natural event that occurs from time to time. Last century, there were flu pandemics in 1918, 1957 and 1968, when millions of people died across the world.

These pages aim to inform you about the current swine flu outbreak and pandemic flu and advise on the important measures to take.

How is swine flu different from seasonal flu or bird flu?
Seasonal flu, caused by an existing flu virus, is a common infection in the UK that usually occurs during a two-month period in winter. For most people, it is an unpleasant but not life-threatening infection. People who are more at risk from it, such as older people, can be given a vaccine each year (see Selected links, right).

Bird flu, also known as avian flu, is influenza that, as its name suggests, is usually confined to birds. However, like swine flu, it can also sometimes be caught by people and by pigs.

If swine flu or bird flu do spread in people, it can be very serious and can cause death.

A pandemic occurs when a new flu virus appears in the human population and spreads from person to person worldwide. It is likely that such a virus will be caused by a bird or animal virus mixing with the human virus (see Causes).

It is expected that an outbreak of pandemic flu will cause more illness and many more deaths than ordinary flu.

What can we do?
The single most effective way to stop or slow the spread of diseases such as swine flu is to prevent the spread of germs. Wash your hands regularly with soap and water and cover your mouth if you cough or sneeze (see Prevention for more detailed information).

You should also think about what you would do if you and your family all became ill. Who could you rely on for support, such as to collect medicines or shop for you? What food and other supplies should you keep a store of at home?

NHS 24 swine flu information

Last updated on 6 November 2009 01:10 PM