Role of community health nurse: Prevention of swine flu

Swine influenza virus is common throughout pig populations worldwide. Transmission of the virus from pigs to humans is not common and does not always lead to human flu, often resulting only in the production of antibodies in the blood. If transmission does cause human flu, it is called zoonotic swine flu. People with regular exposure to pigs are at increased risk of swine flu infection. Influenza viruses infect the cells lining the nose, throat and lungs. The virus enters the body when one inhale's contaminated droplets or transfer live virus from a contaminated surface to the eyes, nose or mouth. Swine flu symptoms develop about one to three days after the exposure to the virus and continue for about seven days. Most cases of flu, including H1N1 flu, require only symptomatic relief. People who suffer from chronic respiratory disease, doctor's may prescribe additional medication to help relieve the symptoms. The antiviral drugs oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza) are sometimes prescribed to reduce the severity of symptoms, but flu viruses can develop resistance to such anti viral drugs.