Disease Investigation And Source Analysis: Swine Flu

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Year 9 science assessment task 2
Disease Investigation and Source Analysis
SWINE FLU
Where did Swine Flu come from and could it be a threat to humans?
Introduction
Swine Flu is an interesting disease to research as it sounds like it could be a serious life threatening pandemic. There was an outbreak in 2008 and I remember it being on TV. Swine Flu also known as H1N1 was known as a pandemic in 2008. A pandemic is a wide spread outbreak of an infectious disease. Swine Flu is a highly contagious respiratory disease, it can be transferred from human contact, droplets from a cough or sneeze and from surfaces that have come into contact with infected droplets i.e. tables, phones, handrails, tissues etc., the disease can live for about 2 hours outside …show more content…

A cough or sneeze can spread a few thousand germs around the room. Swine Flu is caused by the influenza virus that normally infects pigs. The main transmission isn't from pigs to people, but from person to person. Swine Flu is known to have started around 2008, researchers believe it lingered in Mexico for a while and was mistaken for the common flu. It spread from pigs mucus to humans and then with people travelling around the world by human to human contact, sneezing, coughing, and even by standing near someone talking (droplets of saliva) with the virus.
When the Swine Flu, H1N1 pandemic broke out Australia International borders were monitored by Department of Health staff and Border Agency staff by screening all people entering Australia through international ports. People detected with high temperatures were referred on to Doctors. Once the virus was found to be not as deadly as first believed and that it was an impossible disease to stop from entering Australia anyway, the screening at Australia’s international borders were …show more content…

Tamiflu is a recommended drug to treat Swine Flu. You should only take Tamiflu if you have been in direct contact with a person that has been diagnosed with Swine Flu. Discuss with a doctor if it is necessary to take Tamiflu.

Conclusion
Generally Swine Flu should not be fatal to humans unless you fall into a high risk category of poor health. The best way to not contract Swine Flu, is not to contract it at all, prevention is better than cure. Frequent washing of hands is a must. Get a vaccination for Swine Flu if you believe you are at risk of contracting it. Plenty of sleep and a healthy diet and lifestyle is a must. Avoid sick pigs or sick people if possible. Avoid travel to countries or places where there has been an outbreak of Swine Flu.

REFERENCE LIST
Swine flu 2015, Better Health Channel, accessed 8 September 2015, .
Krause, L 2012, Swine flu, Health line, accessed 8 September 2015, .
Davis, C 2015, Swine flu, Medicine net, accessed 15 September 2015, .
Masterson, K 2009, Where did swine flu come from? NPR, accessed 16 September 2015, .
McCormack, 2015, personal communication (Quarantine

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