Swine influenza virus (referred to as SIV) refers to influenza cases that are caused by Orthomyxoviruses that are endemic to pig populations. SIV strains isolated to date have been classified either as Influenzavirus C or one of the various subtypes of the genus Influenzavirus A. The 2009 swine flu outbreak is the spread of a new strain of H1N1 influenza virus that was first detected by public health agencies in March 2009. Local outbreaks of influenza-like illness were detected in three areas in Mexico, but the presence of this new strain was not discovered for a full month.
Swine flu infection of health care workers (or as CDC refers to them, health
care personnel or HCP) was of interest early in the pre-pandemic phase for at
last two reasons. One was the obvious goal of estimating the risk to front
line workers and devising best practices for their protection. Another was
the belief, reinforced by the SARS outbreak in 2003, that spread to HCP was
an early warning that the virus was easily transmissible from person to
person. SARS is a disease where patients are most infectious in the later
stages when they are extremely ill, and HCP were among the hardest hit
groups. Most flu is transmitted in the community, but the SARS model still
seems appropriate for flu viruses like H5N1 ("bird flu") where transmission
is rare. Any report that a heal... (more)
If you don't want to smell, the FDA has a recommendation: use an
over-the-counter cold remedy that contains an intranasal zinc solution. You
won't smell. Possibly ever again:
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There are a couple of fantastic boy bloggers here at ScienceBlogs who write
about the marketing of unvalidated alternative therapies to patients (a
practice they call "woo"). I agree with them that is completely unethical to
market a therapy (or, non-therapy) using claims that have not been
scientifically tested and peer reviewed. That said, is there any value to
treatments we tradition... (more)
Two elite flu reporters, Helen Branswell (Canadian Press) and Declan Butler
(Nature), both noted yesterday the dearth of clinic information on the
serious and fatal swine flu cases. First Butler:
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Swine influenza virus (referred to as SIV) refers to influenza cases that are caused by Orthomyxoviruses that are endemic to pig populations. SIV strains isolated to date have been classified either as Influenzavirus C or one of the various subtypes of the genus Influenzavirus A. The 2009 swine flu outbreak is the spread of a new strain of H1N1 influenza virus that was first detected by public health agencies in March 2009. Local outbreaks of influenza-like illness were detected in three areas in Mexico, but the presence of this new strain was not discovered for a full month. 
Patrick Harding
Tom Fisher
Robert Graybill
Moe Tamani
Eric Lantz
Scot Schultz
Brian Sparks
Gilad Shainer
Clint Lee
Maria Lorna Kunnath
