Swine Flu is a respiratory disease that infects pigs. It is caused by an influenza virus (Influenza Type A and carries the designation H1N1). According to the U.S Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the virus contains DNA from avian, swine and human viruses, including elements from European and Asian swine viruses. It does not normally infect humans, but this occasionally does occur.
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) says the new swine flu virus is spread from person to person in the same way as ordinary colds and flu. The virus is spread through the droplets that come out of the nose or mouth when someone coughs or sneezes. If someone coughs or sneezes and they do not cover their mouth and nose, those droplets can spread about one metre (3ft). If you are very close to that person you might breathe in the droplets. If someone coughs or sneezes into their hand, those droplets and the virus within them are easily transferred to surfaces that the person touches such as door handles and hand rails. If you touch these surfaces and touch your face, the virus can enter your system, and you can become infected.
The flu virus can live on a hard surface for up to 24 hours and on a soft surface for around 4 hours.
It is likely that the virus originated in pigs. The Mexican Government and the World Health Organisation have ruled out any risk of infection from eating pork.
Advice to the Public:
The advice from the NHS is that preventing the spread of germs is the single most effective way to slow the spread of diseases like pandemic flu. You can protect yourself and your family by ensuring everyone washes their hands regularly with soap and water, and by cleaning surfaces regularly.
You can prevent a virus spreading to others by:
- Always carrying tissues.
- Using tissues to cover your mouth and nose when you cough and sneeze.
- Binning the tissues as soon as possible.
- Washing your hands regularly.
CATCH IT. BIN IT. KILL IT. is a simple way to remember this.
Advice to Healthcare Workers:
This information is taken directly from the NHS Choices web-site.
You can reduce but not eliminate, the risk of catching or spreading swine flu by:
- Always covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
- Disposing of dirty tissues promptly and carefully.
- Maintaining good basic hygiene, for example washing hands frequently with soap and water to reduce the spread of the virus from your hands to face, or to other people.
- Cleaning hard surfaces, such as door handles frequently using a normal cleaning product.
The wearing and use of Personnel Protection Equipment is recommended to those in contact with suspected or confirmed influenza. This includes:
- Face masks for general use, where risk is minimal.
- FFP2/FFP3 respirators for close contact with those suspected or confirmed to have the swine flu virus.
- Other equipment such as aprons, gowns, examination gloves, disinfectant wipes and gels can be used in accordance with individual trust guidelines
Government guidelines (HPA and NHS) recommend the use of personnel protective equipment for healthcare workers such as masks, respirators, aprons, disinfectant wipes and gels to help reduce the risks surrounding swine influenza.
