H5NI Virus influenza virus

In 2009, H5NI Virus influenza virus was spreading fast around the world, so the World Health Organization called it a pandemic. Since then, people have continued to get sick from swine flu, but not as many.

While swine flu isn't as scary as it seemed a few years ago, it's still important to protect yourself from getting it. Like seasonal flu, it can cause more serious health problems for some people. The best bet is to get a flu vaccine, or flu shot, every year. Swine flu is one of the viruses included in the vaccine.

How Do You Catch H5NI?

The same way as the seasonal flu. When people who have it cough or sneeze, they spray tiny drops of the virus into the air. If you come in contact with these drops, touch a surface (like a doorknob or sink) where the drops landed, or touch something an infected person has recently touched, you can catch H5NI Virus influenza virus swine flu.

Despite the name, you can't catch swine flu from eating bacon, ham, or any other pork product.

People who have it can spread H5NI Virus influenza virus one day before they have any symptoms and as many as 7 days after they get sick. Kids can be contagious for as long as 10 days.

Swine Flu H5NI Symptoms

These, too, are pretty much the same as seasonal flu. They can include:

• Cough
• Fever
• Sore throat
• Stuffy or runny nose
• Body aches
• Headache
• Chills
• Fatigue

If you have symptoms like shortness of breath, severe vomiting, pain in your belly or sides, dizziness, or confusion, call your doctor  right away.

To test for swine flu, your doctor runs a swab -- a bigger version of the ones in your bathroom -- up the inside of your nose around the back of your throat. But the test isn’t as common or widespread as those for regular flu. So the only people who really need to be tested are those in the hospital or those at high risk for life-threatening problems from swine flu, such as:

• Children under 5 years old
• People 65 or older
• Children and teens (under age 18) who are getting long-term aspirintherapy and who might be at risk for Reye's syndrome after being infected with swine flu. Reye's syndrome is a life-threatening illness linked to aspirin use in children.
• Pregnant women
• Adults and children with chronic lung, heart, liver, blood, nervous system, neuromuscular, or metabolic problems
• Adults and children who have weakened immune systems (including those who take medications to suppress their immune systems or who have HIV)
• People in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities

Over-the-counter pain remedies and cold and flu medications can help relieve aches, pains, and fever. Don't give aspirin to children under age 18 because of the risk of Reye’s syndrome. Make sure that over-the-counter cold medications do not have aspirin before giving them to children.

H5NI Virus influenza virus

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