Essay On Swine Influenza

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Introduction and Biology:
The swine influenza or swine flu is a respiratory disease in pigs that is caused by the type A influenza viruses. These viruses are referred to as swine flu viruses but scientifically the main virus is called the swine triple reassortant (tr) H1N1 influenza virus. When the viruses infect humans they are called variant viruses. This infection has been caused in humans mainly by the H1N1v virus in the United States. The H1N1 virus originates in animals due to improper conditions and the food they ingest. The virus stays in latency form, thus harmless to the respective animal. The longer the animals survive the more likely the virus is to develop and strengthen making it immune to vaccines. The virus reproduced through the lytic cycle. The virus injects its own nucleic acids into a host cell and then they form a circle in the center of the cell. Rather than copying its own nucleic acids, the cell will copy the viral acids. The copies of viral acids then organize themselves as viruses inside of the cell. The membrane will eventually split leaving the viruses free to infect other cells.

History:
This disease was first diagnosed in 1918 and it was referred to as the “Spanish Flu” or “La Grippe.” To this day it is thought to of been the same strain as the swine influenza however it is still unclear. For this particular outbreak it’s not exactly know whether humans contracted the virus from pigs or vice versa. Either way between 20-40 million people died from it. The first confirmed case of H1N1 in the U.S. was diagnosed on April 15th, 2009. The CDC quickly began developing a vaccine due to the fact that it was declared a public health emergency about a week later by the government. It tu...

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...e of surviving would be the one who has a less severe case of the swine flu, without hindering health problems.
Prevention:
There is a vaccination against the H1N1 virus that is available by shot or nasal spray. It is recommended that those who are the highest level of risk get the vaccination before it is too late. The vaccine is the best protection against the virus. Side effects of the shot may include soreness, redness, and swelling at injection site, fainting, headaches, fever and nausea. Side effects from the nasal spray include a runny nose, headache, vomiting, aches and a fever. Serious side effects may include difficulty breathing, hives, paleness, weakness, dizziness and a high fever. The vaccines are usually given at the beginning of the flu season to those who aren’t at much risk. But those who are at high risk should get the vaccine yearly.

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