Lactobacilli as an PROBIOTIC

In June 2009, the World Health Organization declared the new strain of swine-origin H1N1 as a pandemic. This strain is often called swine flu by the public media. This novel virus spread worldwide and had caused about 17,000 deaths by the start of 2010. Influenza A (H1N1) virus is a subtype of influenza A virus and was the most common cause of human influenza (flu) in 2009. Some strains of H1N1 are endemic in humans and cause a small fraction of all influenza-like illness and a small fraction of all seasonal influenza. Swine influenza virus (SIV) is an influenza type A virus, which is an enveloped RNA virus from the Orthomyxoviridae. Influenza viruses are classified based on antigenic structures on the envelope called neuraminidase “N” and haemagglutinin “H”. SIV is classified as an H1N1 virus based on the configuration of H and N. H1N1 is a flu virus that was initially referred to as the swine flu. It was first detected in the United States in April of 2009. It causes flu-like symptoms including, fever, cough, fatigue and muscle aches. Scientists call the H1N1 virus a "quadruple reassortant" virus. This is because the virus contains two genes found in flu viruses which circulate among pigs, and two genes that circulate in flu viruses among birds (avians). The virus was originally called swine flu because of the genes, which are similar to that of flu viruses in pigs. The H1N1 flu virus is passed from person to person just like other flu strains. You cannot catch swine flu from eating pork.

What sets H1N1 virus apart from other seasonal flu viruses is that studies have shown it to cause more severe symptoms in people younger than 25. Also, many people older than 60 years of age have some immunity against the H1N1 virus. Most cases of flu caused by H1N1 are mild, however, there have been some hospitalizations and deaths. Many of the people who have severe complications from H1N1 have other medical conditions, such as pregnancy, diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease and asthma.