Each year fall and winter brings cold and flu season. Seasonal flu strains (which we shall refer to as "regular flu") are widespread and varied. They appear all around the world and generally cause temporary discomfort. Regular flu doesn't pose a long term health problem for the average person. The exceptions are the elderly and others with weakened immune systems. Most deaths attributed to regular flu occur within this demographic.
From year to year the general population builds up some immunity to regular flu. This is not true of swine flu --- the strain that is receiving world wide attention. It is believed to be an entirely new strain of influenza never before seen before in humans.
The current swine flu, it is believed, originated in a pig farm in Vera Cruz, Mexico. A pig farm? Yes --- pig intestines are a natural incubator for a variation of influenza A, known as H1N1. The current swine flu is a variation of influenza A that has crossed over into the human population. This happens on rare occasions.
The CDC feels this H1N1 virus poses the greatest disease burden for people younger than 25 years of age. Fewer cases (and fewer deaths) have been reported in people age 60 and older, perhaps due to their exposure to a similar influenza A in the 1960s. Whatever the reason --- this is a big difference when recognizing what the differences are between swine flu and regular flu.
While regular flu vaccines for are generally available at the beginning of the annual flu season (late September / early October), they will not protect you against H1N1 flu. The H1N1 flu vaccine is entirely separate and may not be available for everyone until late into the flu season, if then. Initial supplies appear to be short due to manufacturing capacity, and rationing of the vaccine is expected to occur based on risk factors.
There are many similarities between swine flu and regular flu. The early symptoms of both infections are about the same: Fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, aches, chills and fatigue. A number of people infected with the H1N1 virus have also reported vomiting and diarrhea.
In regular flu, the symptoms generally last a couple of days. In cases of swine flu, however, the symptoms may last seven days or longer, and become more severe and complicated. Health professionals become most concerned when the symptoms severely hit the respiratory system. If you develop any kind of breathing problems, seek immediate help from your doctor and follow his or her advice.
Remember: the H1N1 swine flu has the potential to be a deadly killer. If the pandemic hits in the numbers that many health professionals expect, it may become a very disrupting force in day to day commerce and transportation. Instead of a relatively small number of deaths among those older and/or ill, the potential is there for the death toll to become staggering, even among young, healthy people. Make no mistake about it: there are major differences between swine flu and regular flu.
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