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The seasonal influenza vaccine is unlikely to offer protection against swine flu. However, it is strongly recommended that people continue to be vaccinated against seasonal influenza.

1. wash your hands frequently with soap and water or use an alcohol based hand gel
2. wash your hands prior to touching your eyes, nose or mouth
3. when coughing or sneezing, cover your mouth and nose with disposable tissues which should be disposed of immediately (more…)

According to the CDC, like seasonal flu, symptoms of swine flu infections can include:

• fever, which is usually high
• cough
• runny nose or stuffy nose
• sore throat
• body aches
• headache
• chills
• fatigue or tiredness, which can be extreme
• diarrhea and vomiting (sometimes)

Signs of a more serious swine flu infection might include pneumonia and respiratory failure.

If your child has symptoms of swine flu, you should avoid other people and call your pediatrician who might do a rapid flu test to see if he has an influenza A infection. Further testing can then be done at the CDC to see if it is a swine flu infection. (Samples are being sent to local and state health departments and then to the CDC for confirmation of swine flu until testing can be done in each state.)

Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza virus that regularly causes outbreaks of influenza in pigs. Swine flu viruses cause high levels of illness and low death rates in pigs. Swine influenza viruses may circulate among swine throughout the year, but most outbreaks occur during the late fall and winter months similar to outbreaks in humans. The classical swine flu virus (an influenza type A H1N1 virus) was first isolated from a pig in 1930. (more…)