Our Maine Street's Aroostook Issue 2 : Fall 2010 | Page 45

Swine Flu - H1N1 Influenza
by Professional Home Nursing

What is Swine Flu or H1N1 Influenza? - It is a common
virus that produces flu symptoms in pigs. Very rarely,
people who were in close contact with pigs would develop
the same flu symptoms as the pigs. Until recently, the
ill humans never passed the virus onto other humans.
Currently the swine flu - H1N1 influenza virus can be
passed on from human to human just like any other flu
virus. However, because this is a new virus for humans,
our yearly flu shot is not effective against the swine fluH1N1 influenza virus.
How Does Swine Flu