Swine Flu -H1N1 (S-OIV)

Abstract

Swine flu is a highly contagious respiratory disease in pigs caused by one of several swine influenza A viruses. The swine influenza virus can be transmitted to humans via contact with infected pigs or environment contaminated with swine influenza viruses. Before 1918 influenza was well established in human but it was never described in pigs earlier. The breakthrough came in 1931 when Robert Shope, transmitted the infectious agent of swine flu from sick pigs to healthy animals and also discovered antibody specificity against the 1918 human influenza rapidly diverged from that of swine flu. Diagnosis is by onset of acute febrile respiratory illness within 7 days, in suspected cases of contact. The human influenza virus real time (RT-PCR) detection and characterization panel (rRT-PCR flu panel), the only in vitro FDA approved laboratory diagnostic test that can provide results within  4hours. Management apart from supportive and quarantine, antiviral drugs Oseltamivir and zanamivir found to be effective.