The COVID-19 pandemic is not the only disease that has attacked Earth's population in the past few decades. Still remember the case of swine flu in 2009? According to WHO, at least swine flu has attacked 21 countries around the world at that time.
Swine flu is the term for a type of influenza caused by the H1N1 virus. The name swine flu appears not without reason, because the gene of the virus that causes it is similar to the influenza virus that causes flu in pigs.
So, speaking of swine flu, a new virus was discovered in China called G4 EA H1N1, abbreviated as G4, and is also known as a new type of swine flu. It is feared that this new virus has the potential to become a pandemic like COVID-19.
However, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention said at this stage the G4 virus did not cause an increased risk of a pandemic compared to earlier strains. The question is, how is the transmission of swine flu that needs to be watched out for?
Transmission Similar to the Common Flu
An early form of the H1N1 virus was found in pigs. Over time, the virus changes (mutates) and infects humans. In general, this virus does not infect humans, but several recent cases of H1N1 have been able to infect humans. In the world of health, this is something that is quite rare.
So, what is the mode of transmission of swine flu? According to experts at the National Institutes of Health, the H1N1 virus can be spread from one person to another when:
- Splashes of snot, saliva, or droplets from the sufferer that stick directly to the surface of other people's eyes, mouth or nose.
- Someone who touches a doorknob, table, computer, or other object that has been contaminated with H1N1, and then touches their mouth, eyes, or nose.
- A person touches mucus while caring for a child or adult who is sick with a cold.
The thing that needs to be emphasized, according to the NIH, the swine flu virus cannot be transmitted to humans through food (whether pork or other foods), drinking water, or swimming in swimming pools or saunas.
In short, the transmission of swine flu is not unlike the transmission of the common flu or the pattern of COVID-19 which is now becoming a pandemic. Recognize the Symptoms of Swine Flu
Talking about the symptoms of swine flu, of course, we will talk about the various complaints that sufferers will experience. In fact, more or less the symptoms of swine flu are almost similar to those of the common cold. So, here are the symptoms of swine flu that sufferers generally experience:
- Fever occurs suddenly (not always), usually above 38 degrees Celsius.
- Sore throat.
- Cough, usually dry.
- Diarrhea.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Pain in the body
- Runny or stuffy nose.
- Fatigue.
- Eyes watery and red.
- Headache.