Significance

• Regular seasonal flu affects a great percentage of the population every year, resulting in thousands of hospitalizations and close to 35,000 deaths. Most of these deaths occur among the elderly and those with weakened immune systems. In contrast, the swine flu seems to have a predilection for younger people and pregnant women, although it has also caused deaths among those with underlying medical conditions.
  
  

Geography

• The disease was first detected in Mexico but has quickly spread around the world. In June of 2009, the World Health Organization declared a pandemic of the virus, which means documented person to person transmission in more than one region.
  
  

Features

• The symptoms of swine flu are similar to those exhibited by people infected with the regular flu. Patients will have headaches, fever, muscle or body aches, sore throat, and stuffy or runny nose. Some people will have nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration. Everyone can get sick with the virus, but most people will only suffer a mild illness lasting anywhere between 2 days to a couple of weeks.
  
  

Warning

• High risk groups include children; people older than 65 years old; patients with chronic medical conditions, like heart disease or asthma; and pregnant women. These groups have a higher risk of complications from swine flu infection. Certain symptoms should alert you to the fact that the person infected with the virus is becoming sicker. These include difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, chest or abdominal pain, severe dehydration, high fever, and dizziness, confusion or any other change in mental status. If any of these symptoms occur, seek prompt medical attention.
  
  

Prevention/Solution

• The best strategy for prevention involves frequent hand washing, avoidance of people who are sick, and covering your mouth and nose with your sleeve when you cough or sneeze. If you are sick, the CDC recommends staying at home until the fever is gone for 24 hours.