Swine influenza (also called swine flu, hog flu, and pig flu) is an infection by any one of several types of swine influenza virus. Swine influenza virus (SIV) is any strain of the influenza family of viruses that is endemic in pigs. As of 2009, the known SIV strains include influenza C and the subtypes of influenza A known as H1N1, H1N2, H3N1, H3N2, and H2N3.

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.

H1N1 flu in humans can vary in severity from mild to severe. Severe disease with pneumonia, respiratory failure and even death is possible with novel H1N1 flu infection.

Steps to Lessen the Spread of Flu

1. Remind the sick person to cover their coughs, and clean their hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

2. Have everyone in the household clean their hands often, using soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. 

3. Keep the sick person away from other people as much as possible. If you must have close contact with the sick person (for example, hold a sick infant), spend the least amount of time possible in close contact and try to wear a facemask (for example, surgical mask) or N95 disposable respirator. 

4. Used facemasks and N95 respirators should be taken off and placed immediately in the regular trash so they don’t touch anything else.