Swine Flu FAQs

1. What is a flu virus?

Influenza is a single stranded RNA virus, contained within an approximately spherical lipid envelope and measuring roughly 100nm in diameter. There are three main virus groups, A, B and C. Annual epidemics of respiratory infection occur because of minor antigenic changes (antigenic drift). When there is a major antigenic shift, a worldwide pandemic may develop. Antigenic shift is contrasted with antigenic drift, which occurs in all influenza groups (A, B and C) and is the natural mutation over time of known strains of influenza which may lead to a loss of immunity or to a vaccine mismatch. Antigenic shift however occurs only in influenza virus A because it infects more than just humans. Affected species include other mammals, such as pigs, and birds giving influenza A the opportunity for major reorganization of surface antigens. Pandemic influenza A strains have a high attack rate and are associated with increased morbidity and mortality.

There is a 1-4 day incubation period with patients infectious for a day preceding and the first 3 days of symptoms.

2. What is swine flu?

Swine flu is a respiratory disease that infects pigs and is caused by the influenza virus (type A). There are many different types or strains of swine flu and the virus is continually evolving and changing (mutating). There are regular outbreaks of swine flu in pigs, which become ill but rarely die from the virus. Swine flu does not normally infect humans, although this occasionally does occur - usually in people who have had close contact with pigs. Swine flu viruses are usually of the H1N1 subtype. The swine flu that has spread to humans is a version of this virus.

It is likely that the new version of swine flu has arisen as a result of several different versions of the virus - usually affecting different animal species such as humans, pigs (swine) and birds (avian) - mixing together in the same animal host and producing a mutant strain – an example of antigenic shift. This new strain has the ability to not only infect people but also to pass from person to person (typically through coughing and sneezing) thus enabling it to reach pandemic proportions if it is not contained at the source of the initial outbreak.

Although H1N1 is the same strain of flu that causes the regular (seasonal) flu outbreaks in humans this latest version of H1N1 is different. The World Health Organization (WHO) have confirmed that at least some of the human cases are a never-before-seen version of the H1N1 strain of influenza type A and this specific virus strain contains genetic material that is typically found in strains of the virus that affect humans, birds and swine.

3. Are we now in a pandemic?

On Wednesday 29^th April the World Health Organisation (WHO) raised the Flu Pandemic alert level from a phase 4 to a phase 5. The WHO works on a 6 phase approach with phases 1–3 correlating with preparing for a pandemic and response planning activities, and phases 4–6 clearly signaling the need for response and mitigation efforts. The WHO defines a phase 5 pandemic alert situation as being:

‘…..characterized by human-to-human spread of the virus into at least two countries in one WHO region. While most countries will not be affected at this stage, the declaration of Phase 5 is a strong signal that a pandemic is imminent and that the time to finalize the organization, communication, and implementation of the planned mitigation measures is short.’

The WHO defines a full blown pandemic as phase 6, so at present based on the rating system used by the World Health Organisation we are now only one step away from an influenza pandemic.

4. What are the symptoms?

The symptoms of swine flu are broadly the same as those of ordinary flu, but may be more severe and cause more serious complications.

The typical symptoms are sudden fever and sudden cough. Other symptoms may include headache, fatigue, chills, fever, aching muscles, limb or joint pain, diarrhea or stomach upset, sore throat, runny nose, sneezing, and loss of appetite. Some people with swine flu have also reported vomiting and diarrhea.

5. Who is at risk?

Potentially everyone is at risk from pandemic flu. This is because the strain causing the pandemic is so new that few if any people will have any immunity or resistance to it as they will not have had any prior exposure to it.

As humans are often exposed to seasonal flu in the form of the H1N1 strain there is limited hope that our immune systems may have something of a head start in the fight against the current potential pandemic strain (a version of H1N1). However, the fact that to date many of the victims are young does point to something unusual with this current strain since normal, seasonal flu tends to affect the elderly disproportionately.

6. How does it spread from person to person?

Swine flu is a virus and therefore spreads in exactly the same way as ordinary cold and flu viruses.

It can be spread through the droplets that come out of the nose and mouth when someone coughs or sneezes. If an infected person fails to cover a cough or sneeze then the droplets can spread over approximately one meter (3ft). If you are very close to the person you might breathe them in.

If an infected person coughs or sneezes into their hand, then any droplets (and the virus contained within them) are easily transferred to any surface that the person subsequently touches. Therefore everyday items at home and in public places may have traces of the virus, such as door handles, the TV remote control, hand rails and computer keyboards. If you touch any of these surfaces and then touch your face, the virus can enter your system, and you can become infected.

Evidence from previous outbreaks suggests that one person will infect about two others, and that influenza spreads particularly rapidly in closed communities such as schools or residential homes.

If swine flu is going to spread worldwide, experts predict that local outbreaks will be seen within the next two to three weeks.

7. How long does it live for on surfaces?

The flu virus can live on a hard surface for up to 24 hours and a soft surface for around 20 minutes.

8. How can you reduce the risk of catching it?

Avoid close contact with people who appear unwell and who have a fever and cough. General infection control practices and good respiratory hand hygiene can help to reduce transmission of all viruses, including the human swine influenza. This includes:

Covering your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, using a tissue when possible
Disposing of dirty tissues promptly and carefully
Maintaining good basic hygiene, for example washing hands frequently with soap and water to reduce the spread of the virus from your hands to face or to other people
Cleaning hard surfaces (e.g. door handles) frequently using a normal cleaning product to remove germs and micro-organisms
If caring for someone with a flu-like illness a mask can be worn to cover the nose and mouth to reduce the risk of transmission. (The UK is looking at increasing its stockpile of masks for healthcare workers for this reason)
Making sure your children follow this advice

9. What are the current recommendations for wearing a facemask?

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) recommends that healthcare workers should wear a facemask if they come into close contact with symptomatic individuals (within one meter) to reduce their risk of catching the virus from patients.

However, there is no conclusive evidence that facemasks will protect healthy people in their day-to-day lives and therefore the HPA does not recommend that healthy people wear facemasks to go about their everyday business.

The flu virus is spread by contact with infected surfaces, or by someone coughing or sneezing at very close range – so unless you are standing close to someone with the virus, wearing a facemask will not make a difference.

There are concerns about the risks posed by not using facemasks correctly. Facemasks must be changed regularly as they are less effective when dampened by a person’s breath. People may infect themselves when they take off their mask by touching the outer surface, or may infect others by not disposing of old masks safely.

Finally, wearing a facemask may encourage complacency. People need to focus on good hand hygiene, staying at home if they are feeling unwell, and covering their mouth when they cough or sneeze.

10. How can you prepare for a pandemic?

There are several things that you can do to prepare yourself for any forthcoming pandemic. These include;

Confirming a network of ‘flu friends’ – friends and relatives – who could help you if you fall ill. They could collect medicines and other supplies for you so you do not have to leave home.
Knowing your NHS number and those of other family members and keeping them in a safe place. You will be able to find your NHS Number on your medical card or other items such as prescribed medication, GP letter or hospital appointment card/letter.
Having a stock of food and other supplies available at home that will last for two weeks, in case you and your family are ill.

Whether you need to protect yourself, your family, your business or your patients, Synergy can help by offering you solutions to reduce the risk posed by swine flu. To help you determine how Synergy can help, we have divided our product offering into 'environmental hygiene products' and 'hand sanitisation'.

Click here for further information about how Synergy can help...

11. Useful Links

For the latest information on swine flu please go to the following websites:

Swine Flu Pandemic

Preparing for the Swine Flu Pandemic

Whether you need to protect yourself, your family, your business, or your patients, Synergy can help by offering you solutions to reduce the risk posed by swine flu. To help you determine how Synergy can help, we have divided our product offering into 'environmental hygiene products' and 'hand sanitation'.

Click here for further information about how Synergy Health can help...

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