The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has reported 64 cases of Swine Flu in the U.S., including two cases in Kansas.
Swine Influenza, or Swine Flu, is a respiratory disease in pigs caused by type A influenza viruses that causes regular outbreaks in pigs, according to the CDC.
“This virus is normally transmitted in pigs but now, probably because of mutation, it’s starting to adapt to human beings,” said Eric Yang, assistant professor of biological sciences.
The CDC has reported that the World Health Organization has raised the alert level to Phase 5, meaning that human-to-human transmission has occurred. There are six levels in WHO’s pandemic alert system.
“The disease we found in the United States is much more alleviated compared to the cases in Mexico,” Yang said. “The reason that we are on high alert is because we have no measure to control, for example, transportation.”
Yang associated Swine Flu with the 2003 outbreak of SARS in China.
“If China was able to control transportation, it could have been stopped,” he said. “But we cannot do that here. (The ease of transportation) allows the virus to spread out.”
Before this sudden outbreak, only 12 cases of Swine Flu had been reported to the CDC since 2005, according to the Kansas Department of Health and Energy.
The two persons diagnosed with Swine Flu in Kansas are still ill and recovering, according to KDHE, and neither of them has been hospitalized.
Maggie Thompson, director of public relations for KDHE, said that no updates have been released on their condition.
Both persons live in the same household, one having been to Mexico recently. Those who have been in contact with the individuals are being tested for the virus as well, according to KDHE.
The CDC reported that Swine Flu could not be contracted by eating pork, even if the animal was infected.
“You cannot get the disease by consuming pork,” Yang said. “It is transmitted through the respiratory track and not the intestinal tract.”
However, the government of Egypt began an effort earlier this week to slaughter all pigs within the country in an effort to prevent the swine flu from spreading.
Swine Flu is transmitted like any other influenza virus, through the air and close contact with individuals that are infected.
Paper facemasks can be used to help prevent individuals from contracting the virus.
“(The masks) would help to prevent them from getting it because it’s transmitted just like any other flu,” Yang said.
However, just touching an infected animal will not transmit the virus.
“Of course, if you have very close contact with a pig, you could get it because the virus is transmitted through the air,” Yang said.
The CDC stated that cleaner environments can help curb the spread of the virus.
“The best way to prevent contracting the disease is to wash your hands as often as possible,” Yang said.
Cases of Swine Flu have been reported in years past, including a case in 1988 when a pregnant woman in Wisconsin contracted the disease and died 8 days later. In Fort Dix, New Jersey, 200 cases were reported in 1976 and one death resulted according to the CDC.
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