Swine Flu

In late April, swine flu was suddenly all over the news. The illness spread from Mexico, where some people died.
But outside of Mexico, people who got the illness didn't get very sick. Mostly, they just had a fever, sore throat, and body aches, similar to the symptoms of the seasonal flu.
That led health officials to change how they're handling the swine flu. People should still wash their hands and sick people should stay home from school and work. But even if someone at a school has a confirmed case of swine flu, the school should not close. There's no need to, health experts now say.
If someone gets swine flu, antiviral medicine can help the person get better. The flu is a virus so the medicine is called anti-viral. A virus is a germ, as you probably know, and germs are too small to be seen.

Swine = Pigs
Did you know that swine is another name for pigs? The swine flu gets its name because pigs carry this kind of flu. This virus is also known as Influenza A (H1N1). You can get this kind of flu from pigs, but it also can be passed from person to person when someone coughs or sneezes. That's why hand washing is important and why it's good to sneeze or cough into your elbow (or a tissue) instead of your hands.
Swine flu is not the same as the seasonal flu, which usually affects people in the fall and winter. Because it's different, the seasonal flu shots that a lot of people get probably won't help with swine flu.
But researchers are working to develop a vaccine for the H1N1 virus. Why? Because this virus is new and we probably haven't seen the last of it. It could resurface in the fall and winter and could make people sicker than it did this spring.

** What You Can Do **
You might wonder what you should do - both now and later if H1N1 becomes a more serious concern. Most of us only need to take everyday measures to try to avoid getting sick. They are:
Wash your hands frequently, especially before eating.
Try to avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. That's how germs get in.
Don't drink out of the same cup or share utensils (forks, spoons) with other people.
Avoid people who are sick (coughing, fever etc.).