FDA.COM H1N1 Information Portal

H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu)

Also called: Swine flu

Swine flu is an infection caused by a virus. It's named for a virus that pigs can get. People do not normally get swine flu, but human infections can and do happen. The virus is contagious and can spread from human to human. Symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue.

There are antiviral medicines you can take to prevent or treat swine flu. There is no vaccine available right now to protect against swine flu. You can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza by

Covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
Washing your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. You can also use alcohol-based hand cleaners.
Avoiding touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
Trying to avoid close contact with sick people.
Staying home from work or school if you are sick.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Start Here

2009 H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu) and You(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Also available in Spanish
H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu)(Patient Education Institute)
Also available in Spanish

News
- H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu)
  - Handwashing and the Flu (10/06/2009, HealthDay)
  - New Survey Suggests Americans Keen for H1N1 Vaccine (10/02/2009, Reuters Health)
  - Swine Flu Tests Could Swamp Diagnostic Labs (10/02/2009, HealthDay)
  - Swine Flu Could Create Hospital Bed Shortage (10/01/2009, HealthDay)
  - U.S. Swine Flu Vaccines to Arrive from Tuesday (10/01/2009, Reuters Health)
  - Bacterial Co-Infections Common in Fatal Cases of Influenza (09/30/2009, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
  - 1918 Flu Closings May Provide Lessons for Today (09/29/2009, HealthDay)
  - FDA Issues Health Alert on Kids' Tamiflu Dosages (09/25/2009, HealthDay)
  - Oct Flu Vaccination to Be "A Little Bumpy" (09/25/2009, Reuters Health)
  - Swine Flu Virus Not Mutating, Making Vaccine a Good Match (09/25/2009, HealthDay)
  - Letter Warns about Tricky Dosing with Liquid Tamiflu for Kids (09/24/2009, HealthDay)
  - U.S. Doubles Early Supply of Swine Flu Vaccine (09/24/2009, Reuters Health)
  - Injectable Vaccines More Effective for Adult Flu Than Nasal Sprays (09/23/2009, HealthDay)
  - Could Swine Flu Panic Be Worse Than Outbreak Itself? (09/22/2009, HealthDay)
  - Flu Can Raise Chances of Heart Attack (09/22/2009, HealthDay)
  - 1 Swine Flu Shot Enough for Older Kids (09/21/2009, HealthDay)
  - Early Results: In Children, 2009 H1N1 Influenza Vaccine Works Like Seasonal Flu Vaccine (09/21/2009, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)
  - 1st Doses of Swine Flu Vaccine Set for Early October (09/18/2009, HealthDay)
  - Swine Flu Shots Safe for People with Weak Immune Systems (09/18/2009, HealthDay)
  - Airline Workers May Spread H1N1, Expert Says (09/17/2009, Reuters Health)
  - Swine Flu Loves a Crowd (09/17/2009, HealthDay)
  - FDA Approves 4 Swine Flu Vaccines (09/15/2009, HealthDay)
  - FDA Approves Vaccines for 2009 H1N1 Influenza Virus (09/15/2009, Food and Drug Administration)
  - Swine Flu Deaths Show This Flu Is Different (09/15/2009, Reuters Health)
  - Small Businesses Urged to Prepare for Swine Flu (09/14/2009, HealthDay)
  - One Dose of Swine Flu Vaccine Offers Protection: Studies (09/11/2009, HealthDay)
  - School Closures Can Slow Flu, Timing Critical: WHO (09/11/2009, Reuters Health)
  - Get Your Vaccine for Seasonal Flu, Experts Urge (09/10/2009, HealthDay)
  - Swine Flu Burrows into Lungs (09/10/2009, HealthDay)
  - Swine Flu Shots May Come Too Late to Stem Fall Outbreak (09/10/2009, HealthDay)
  - NIAID Launches 2009 H1N1 Influenza Vaccine Trial in Pregnant Women (09/09/2009, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)
  - Antiviral Drugs Should Be Used Cautiously To Fight Flu, U.S. Says (09/08/2009, HealthDay)
  - Colleges Move to Limit Swine Flu's Spread (09/08/2009, HealthDay)
  - Giving Swine Flu Drug by IV Could Save Lives (09/04/2009, HealthDay)
  - U.S. Issues Swine Flu Guidelines for Day-Care Programs (09/04/2009, HealthDay)
  - Respirator Masks Best for Swine Flu Health Workers (09/03/2009, HealthDay)
  - Swine Flu Has Killed 36 U.S. Children So Far (09/03/2009, Reuters Health)
  - Swine Flu Poses Risk to Kids with Neurological Conditions (09/03/2009, HealthDay)
  - Keep Your Flu Shots Straight This Fall (09/02/2009, HealthDay)
  - Swine Flu Gets More Active As Schools Open: CDC (09/02/2009, Reuters Health)
  - Studies in Animals Suggest 2009 H1N1 Virus May Have Biological Advantage Over Seasonal Influenza Viruses (08/31/2009, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)
  - Study Details Swine Flu Transmission Rates (08/28/2009, HealthDay)
  - Another Report Finds Swine Flu Targeting the Young (08/27/2009, HealthDay)
  - CDC Turns to Social Sites to Get Flu Message Out (08/27/2009, Reuters Health)
  - Many Health-Care Workers May Shun Swine Flu Shot (08/26/2009, HealthDay)
  - No Flu Vaccines Before Mid-October, CDC Predicts (08/26/2009, Reuters Health)
  - Swine Flu Vaccine Seems Safe in Early Trials (08/21/2009, HealthDay)
  - School Kids, Parents Should Get Flu Vaccines First (08/20/2009, HealthDay)
  - Swine Flu May Not Close College Classrooms (08/20/2009, HealthDay)
  - Swine Flu Vaccine Delay Manageable, Experts Say (08/20/2009, HealthDay)
  - Businesses Need Swine Flu Action Plan, U.S. Says (08/19/2009, HealthDay)
  - U.S. to Start Testing Swine Flu Vaccines in Children (08/19/2009, Reuters Health)
  - Get Smart About Swine Flu for Back-To-School (08/14/2009, HealthDay)
  - Swine Flu May Not Be Any Deadlier This Fall (08/11/2009, HealthDay)
  - For Flu, Vaccines Better Than Antiviral Drugs (08/10/2009, Reuters Health)
  - School Closures May Not Be Necessary When Swine Flu Strikes (08/07/2009, HealthDay)
  - Rapid Swine Flu Test Misses Many Infections (08/06/2009, HealthDay)
  - WHO Sees Swine Flu Vaccination from Next Month (08/06/2009, Reuters Health)
  - Some Measures Won't Help Prevent Flu Pandemic (08/05/2009, Reuters Health)
  - WHO Maintains 2 Billion Estimate for Likely H1N1 Cases (08/04/2009, Reuters Health)
  - Surgical Masks Help Ward Off Flu, Maybe (08/03/2009, HealthDay)
  - CDC Advisors Make Recommendations for Use of Vaccine Against Novel H1N1 (07/29/2009, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
  - Prioritize Pregnant Women to Get Swine Flu Shot, Experts Say (07/29/2009, HealthDay)
  - Save Swine Flu Drugs for Younger Patients (07/28/2009, HealthDay)
  - Drugs Work Best When Swine Flu Found Early (07/27/2009, Reuters Health)
  - FDA Authorizes Emergency Use of Another Test for 2009 H1N1 Influenza Virus (07/24/2009, Food and Drug Administration)
  - First Defense Against Swine Flu - Seasonal Vaccine (07/24/2009, Reuters Health)
  - Swine Flu Could Eventually Affect 40% of Americans (07/24/2009, HealthDay)
  - Swine Flu Spreads; Health Officials Plan Vaccines (07/24/2009, Reuters Health)
  - U.S. Expects 160 Million Doses Of Swine Flu Vaccine By October (07/23/2009, HealthDay)
  - Guard Against Swine Flu at Summer Camp (07/18/2009, HealthDay)
  - CDC Fears More Swine Flu Cases in Fall (07/17/2009, Reuters Health)
  - Swine Flu Vaccine on Track for Fall (07/17/2009, HealthDay)
  - H1N1 Pandemic Spreading Too Fast to Count (07/16/2009, Reuters Health)
  - Swine Flu Vaccine Taking Longer Than Expected (07/13/2009, HealthDay)
  - Obesity Emerges as Risk Factor in Severe Flu (07/11/2009, Reuters Health)
  - Also see MedlinePlus H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu)

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