WHY ARE HUMANS CATCHING PIG FLU?
Normally, swine flu affects only pigs, or occasionally people who have direct contact with pigs. But the new influenza H1N1 virus is a never-before-seen mix of different animal and human versions of swine flu. Although it's called swine flu, the new strain is not infecting pigs and is being passed human to human.
HOW DANGEROUS IS IT?
More than 100 people have died in Mexico and thousands have become sick. A worrying fact is most of the dead were aged between 25 and 45 rather than being elderly or very young. The first victims of the deadly Spanish flu pandemic of 1918 which caused 50 million deaths worldwide were also healthy young adults.The good news is that Tamiflu appears to be effective against the new strain. So far the suspected cases found in New Zealand do not appear to be serious.
WHY SO MANY DEAD IN MEXICO?
One theory is that something increased the strain's potency, like co-infection with another microbe or unwittingly dangerous treatment.
HOW DOES IT KILL?
Viruses kill their host by over-stimulating immune systems that are robust and healthy. That is why healthy adults with strong immune systems can be hit hardest. Inflammation and leaking fluid in lung cells can effectively drown victims from inside.
HAS IT HAPPENED BEFORE?
An outbreak among soldiers in New Jersey in 1976 caused one death. A 2005 outbreak in China killed 34 people.
CAN I CATCH IT FROM PORK?
No. Cooking pork kills all bacteria and viruses.