Influenza A H1N1 (swine flu) has spread around the world with what has, at times, felt like horrifying speed, but there is a feeling that many of us have dodged a bullet. Of the 2384 laboratory-confirmed cases reported in 24 countries, as TLID went to press, there had been 44 deaths, 42 of which were [...]

A Pandemic is an outbreak of disease which occurs simultaneously around the world. An influenza pandemic may occur from the 2009 H1N1 influenza (swine flu) currently circulating. Right now people could be at risk for developing the flu and there is no vaccine immediately available. Since the 2009 H1N1 flu virus is new to humans [...]

Vaccines have been developed to protect against the virus that causes swine flu. There are two different brands of vaccine – Pandemrix and Celvapan. Many people given the Pandemrix vaccine will only need one dose. People who have the Celvapan vaccine will need two doses three weeks apart.
The swine flu vaccine is different from the [...]

What is “Swine” flu? Swine Influenza (swine fl u) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses that causes regular outbreaks in pigs. People do not normally get swine flu, but human infections can and do happen. Swine fl u viruses have been reported to spread from person-to-person, but in the [...]

A vaccine against the newly emerging strain of H1N1 could stop or slow its spread, and thus reduce its impact on health services, workplaces, schools and the economy. Since this virus differs markedly from previous strains of H1N1, existing flu vaccines will not work against it and a new vaccine needs to be developed.
Several different [...]