Throughout the course of three days, we have come to see the outbreak of a new disease that according to experts, has a good shot at becoming a pandemic.

The Swine Flu, a relatively rare virus, has taken on a new face; with a new strand of it loose across Mexico and the US, it's starting to cause some sort of unease in the minds of health officials in the States and more so in Mexico.

So, because not many people are in the know about this new outbreak of this virus (unless you're a CNN hog like me) I'll tell you as much as I can about this virus using all available knowledge that I have acquired from sources like CNN, The CDC, and The WHO (World Health Organization) giving you solid facts, and ways that according to the CDC will help you stay safe.

Ok, Let's all start with pure, unadulterated facts.

- The Swine Flu is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza. This virus is a common outbreak amongst pigs; however, it is still possible for humans to acquire the virus. This new strain of the virus, however is begging to spread more rapidly than the previous strain of the known virus.

- This new strain of the virus, according to the CDC, is said to be born in Mexico, and the same strand is said to be the culprit in the 20 cases of the Swine Flu in the States over the course of the past couple of days.

- In Mexico, there have been over 1,000 confirmed cases of the Swine Flu, 81 people dead as a probable result of the virus, 20 of which have been confirmed as a result of the Swine.

- As of April 26th, there have been 20 confirmed cases in the United States; 8 in New York, 7 in California 3 in Texas and 2 in Kansas.

- The Secretary of Homeland Security has stated that all US borders will be screening for people with possible symptoms of the Swine Flu; at this point, this consists mainly of asking people is they have been feeling sick and observing for signs of the illness. If the people appear to have symptoms of the Flu, then they will be sent for further testing.


These were the facts, now, let me address some of the questions that you may have on your mind.

What are the Symptoms of the Swine Flu?

- The Swine Flu presents many of your typical Flu symptoms:
Fever (usually high)
Headache
Extreme tiredness
Dry cough
Sore throat
Runny or stuffy nose
Muscle aches
Stomach symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
Lack of appetite

Who does the Swine Flu affect?

- The swine Flu can affect anyone.

Is there treatment for the Virus?

- Yes, there are several anti-viral medications that can be used to treat the Swine Flu. According to the CDC, the best options are Oseltamivir and Zanamivir.

Can you get the Virus from Eating Pork?

- No, You cannot get the Virus from eating Pork unless it is eaten raw or undercooked and the meat is infected. Play it safe, and make sure that your pork is well cooked. The CDC is running tests on livestock to see if they have been infected with the Virus as a precaution.

What measures can I take to make myself less likely to obtain the Virus?

- What the doctor always tells you to do: wash your hands, avoid people with the illness, don't touch anything that may have come in contact with the virus.

- Like so, if you have the virus, avoid contact with other people, wash your hands, don't leave tissues all over the place, if this escalated into a large threat, you may need to wear a mask when you go out in public.


Now, this is about as much as I can give you, if you have any more concerns, these sites may be able to help you out better than me:

[link] This is the link to the CDC's page on the Swine Flu

[link] This is the Link to the Page on Swine Flu from the World Health Organization; it has both news and information about the disease.

Remember, play it safe

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