Everything you need to know about H1N2 and how it differs to other types of flu
Both pigs and humans can catch swine flu and people catch the disease mainly from someone who has already been infected by it.
Influenza is a highly contagious infection that causes severe illness, but people who are very young or very old and people who already have an existing health condition are at the greatest risk. H1N2 is a subtype of the influenza A virus, which is also called bird flu and it is seen as a major public health concern due to its cross-species nature.
The virus spreads through the air in droplets released when someone with the virus coughs, sneezes, breathes or talks. The virus enters your body when you breathe in contaminated droplets and it can also enter your body if you touch a contaminated surface and then touch your eyes, nose or mouth.
Humans cannot directly catch swine flu from pigs (Getty Images/iStockphoto)This how it is thought to infect humans, after an infected pig coughs or sneezes and droplets containing the virus spread through the air. If these droplets land in the nose or mouth, or are inhaled by another person, they can become infected. There also is evidence variant flu viruses can spread by touching something that has the virus on it and then touching the eyes, nose or mouth, according to the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
The symptoms caused by H1N2 are no worse than for other strains of the virus, however, frequent mutations mean regular vaccinations may be needed to protect people against any new strains. If a child starts to start to feel ill in any way, he or she should ask their parents, teacher or school nurse to take their temperature immediately as a key sign that somebody might have swine flu is a temperature of 38ºC (100.4ºF).
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As well as having a temperature a child might have a cough, sore throat, aching body, headache, feel chilly, feel very tired and they may also get diarrhoea and vomiting. However, complications can also arise, including a risk of febrile seizure, a form of epileptic seizure associated with fever, asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease may be exacerbated, thee can be problems with the heart if there is already a weakness, there is a risk of pneumonia, the fetus in pregnant mothers could be impacted and in extreme cases, there is the risk of death.
There are only three types of influenza A known to exist among humans –H1N1, H1N2, and H3N2. The H1N2 strain was identified between December 1988 and March 1989 in six cities across China with 19 people infected. However, during the 2001 to 2002 flu season in the northern hemisphere, H1N2 was found in the US, Canada, France, Romania, Ireland, Latvia, Oman, India, Malaysia, and Singapore. The earliest reported outbreak occurred in India on May 31, 2001.
It wasn't until February 2002, that the UK had its first cases of H1N2 along with Egypt and Israel according to the World Health Organisation and Britain's Public Health Laboratory Service. Another strain, called the 2001–2002 Influenza H1N2 Wisconsin is thought to have appeared from a mutation of H1N1 and H3N2. But because of the general overall similarities between the types of the virus the flu vaccine should protect against it, along with the existing H1N1, H3N2 and influenza B viruses.
As with normal flu, anyone who has swine flu should get as much bed rest as possible and drink plenty of fluids. Antiviral medicine may be prescribed to help deal with the more severe symptoms such as nasal congestion, pain and fever. Medics may also suggest using paracetamol, aspirin, codeine and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and it is advised that people, especially the most vulnerable, make sure they get a flu jab to prevent further infections.
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