Swine Flu is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses (H1N1) that causes regular outbreaks in pigs. People do not normally get swine flu, but human infections can and do happen.

Swine flu viruses have been reported to spread from person-to-person, but in the past, this transmission was limited.

Facts

• Infectivity = 1 day before symptoms, for minimum of 7 days, or longer if symptoms persist.
• March/April 2009, cases of human infection with swine influenza A (H1N1) viruses first reported in Southern California and San Antonio, Texas.
• This swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is contagious and is spreading from human to human. However, it is not known how easily the virus spreads between people.
• Unique, unusual virus with 4 different sources.