In some cases, however, a doctor may prescribe an antiviral medication. These drugs can shorten the duration of symptoms and reduce their severity. Doctors now consider H1N1 to be a flu strain that can occur in people and spread alongside seasonal flu viruses. A person can catch it if they are in close contact with someone who has H1N1. People who work with swine may have a risk of contracting new types of flu or other diseases from animals.
These are known as zoonotic diseases. Some people have a higher risk of flu, including H1N1, or having severe symptoms or complications. These individuals include :. If a doctor suspects that a person may have H1N1 or another type of flu, they may recommend a test to confirm the diagnosis.
The rapid influenza diagnostic test can help identify swine flu. However, this test can vary in effectiveness and may show a negative result when a certain influenza virus strain is present.
Most people do not need more than a rapid flu test, as treatment will be the same, regardless of the test outcome. Those whose work or lifestyle brings them into contact with swine and other animals should :. Swine flu is a respiratory disease that transmits through droplets in the air and on surfaces.
It is not possible to catch if from eating properly cooked pork. Another pandemic of H1N1 swine flu is much less likely now, as people have developed some degree of immunity.
Before the — pandemic, there was no evidence that H1N1 had infected humans. Under the right conditions, however, a pandemic can occur if any novel virus moves from animals to humans.
For more information about swine influenza infections in humans, see Variant Influenza Viruses in Humans. Swine flu viruses can cause high levels of illness in pig herds, but cause few deaths in pigs.
Swine influenza viruses can circulate among swine throughout the year, but most outbreaks occur during the late fall and winter months similar to outbreaks in humans. Like influenza viruses in humans and other animals, swine flu viruses change constantly.
Pigs can be infected by avian influenza and human influenza viruses as well as swine influenza viruses. When influenza viruses from different species infect pigs, the viruses can reassort i. Over the years, different variations of swine flu viruses have emerged.
Swine flu viruses are thought to be spread among pigs mostly through close contact and possibly from contaminated objects moving between infected and uninfected pigs. Infected swine herds, including those vaccinated against swine flu, may have sporadic disease, or may show only mild or no symptoms of infection.
Signs of swine flu in pigs can include fever, depression, coughing barking , discharge from the nose or eyes, sneezing, breathing difficulties, eye redness or inflammation, and going off feed. Some pigs infected with influenza, however, may show no signs of illness at all.
H1N1 and H3N2 swine flu viruses are endemic among pig populations in the United States and something that the industry deals with routinely. Outbreaks among pigs normally occur in colder weather months late fall and winter , but can occur year round.
While H1N1 swine viruses have been known to circulate among pig populations since at least , H3N2 influenza viruses did not begin circulating among pigs in the United States until about The signs and symptoms of flu caused by the H1N1 virus are similar to those of infections caused by other flu strains and can include:.
It's not necessary to see a doctor if you're generally healthy and develop flu signs and symptoms, such as fever, cough and body aches. Call your doctor, however, if you have flu symptoms and you're pregnant or you have a chronic disease, such as asthma, emphysema, diabetes or a heart condition, because you have a higher risk of flu complications. If you have emergency signs and symptoms of the flu, get medical care right away.
For adults, emergency signs and symptoms can include:. Influenza viruses such as H1N1 infect the cells that line your nose, throat and lungs. The virus enters your body when you inhale contaminated droplets or transfer live virus from a contaminated surface to your eyes, nose or mouth.
If you live in or travel to an area where many people are infected with the H1N1 virus, you may be exposed to the virus. Each year's seasonal flu vaccine protects against the three or four influenza viruses that are expected to be the most common during that year's flu season. The flu vaccine can reduce your risk of the flu and its severity and lower the risk of having serious illness from the flu and needing to stay in the hospital.
Flu vaccination is especially important in the flu season because the flu and coronavirus disease COVID cause similar symptoms.
Preventing the flu and reducing the severity of flu illness and hospitalizations could also lessen the number of people needing to stay in the hospital. The flu vaccine is available as an injection and as a nasal spray. The nasal spray is approved for use in healthy people ages 2 through 49 years old. The nasal spray isn't recommended for some groups, such as pregnant women, children between 2 and 4 years old with asthma or wheezing, and people who have compromised immune systems.
For example, you may need to practice social distancing physical distancing and stay at least 6 feet 2 meters from others outside your household.
You may also need to wear a cloth face mask when around people outside your household. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview The H1N1 flu, commonly known as swine flu, is primarily caused by the H1N1 strain of the flu influenza virus. More Information Self-care for the flu.
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