How Did the Swine Flu Start?

With all the news about the H1N1 virus, you might be wondering how did the swine flu start?

Experts believe that it started in Asian pigs and then was carried to North America by people infected with the virus. It actually broke out as a epidemic in Mexico in April of 2009, however, there were signs that a serious flu was circulating prior to that.

The government, private offices, and schools in Mexico City shut down to contain the disease.

By June, 2009, the virus had spread globally. At this point, the World Health Organization declared it to be a pandemic.

To date, there have been 5500 people in America who have been hospitalized and 353 who have died as a result of the virus. These numbers are not more serious than those of a typical flu.

However, there are some signs that point to greater concern.

For instance, in Latin America, the flu season hits in the spring and summer because it is in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, where Europe and America lie, the flu season won't hit until the fall and it will last into the winter.

Latin Americans have been particularly hard hit during this flu season which proves problematic to us as we enter our own.

At this point, it is relatively mild, though for those who have experienced a severe case, it can be traumatic. But should it mutate, the public health results could be disastrous.

For instance, the Centers for Disease Control estimate that 40 percent of Americans will catch H1N1 in the next two years. If it does mutate into something more than the normal flu, our health system could be overwhelmed and people could die waiting for help.

We already see evidence of this failure on the part of the government and the health delivery system. The swine flu vaccine will be rationed to the people in the highest risk groups because there simply is not enough to go around.

How did the Swine Flu start? It was a mutation of a pig illness and was around quite a while before it got really bad. Therefore, you need to be able to take action quickly in case things change again.

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