by Charles Ray

Created on: May 15, 2009

Swine flu is the name commonly given to the H1N1 strain of influenza virus that usually infects pigs. Humans do not normally catch the common forms of swine flu.

The 2009 outbreak of H1N1, which is believed to have mutated inside a pig, which then infected a human who was in close contact with the animal, originated in Mexico, but quickly spread to other countries.

The key difference in the current strain of H1N1 is the presence of parts of swine, avian and human flu. The World Health Organization (WHO) believes that the presence of human flu in this strain explains its ability to infect humans. WHO has confirmed that it is now capable of human-to-human transmission, raising the fears of a possible global pandemic.

The ability of the virus to rapidly mutate as it passes from host to host complicates the ability to produce a vaccine that will deal with it. Worldwide, thousands have already been infected with a number of fatalities, mostly in Mexico.

In the U.S., the outbreak, in its first phase, has been mild. The danger this poses is that the mildness of this outbreak can lull people into a false sense of complacency. Typically, flu outbreaks occur in waves. The 1918 pandemic, for instance, was mild when it first appeared, but when the second wave occurred in the fall, it had mutated into a more virulent virus that is reported to have killed around 50 million people worldwide. Predicting the course of the 2009 H1N1 outbreak is a difficult undertaking. It is, however, prudent to assume that during the upcoming fall flu season, a mutated version will resurface.

This should not be cause for panic, but it should provoke serious concern. Global travel in 2009 is light-years beyond what it was in 1918. A deadly virus in this century can establish a global presence in hours rather than weeks. Not knowing what form, or level of virulence, the mutation will take, places a great strain on the ability of healthcare systems to cope. While everyone is potentially at risk, economically underdeveloped countries, with their limited health delivery, face a catastrophe of potentially epic proportions.

The burden on governments, if there is another outbreak, will be huge. It is then incumbent upon individuals to take sensible preventive measures to protect themselves and their families. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website provides regular updates on the progress of the disease, and offers sound advice on preventive measures that can limit the spread.

In coping with the current outbreak, and any future occurrences, an ounce of prevention is far superior to a pound of cure.

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