Swine Flu – An Epidemic Waiting To Be Unleashed?

Swine flu is a strain of avian influenza that found its way into the animal’s system and from there into our bodies. As if dealing with bird flu wasn’t bad enough we now have to deal with a bird-pig double whammy. Actually, swine flu can also be transferred from humans to pigs. The last major scare America had with swine flu was in Fort Dix, N.J in 1976 when four soldiers fell sick and one died.

It’s a bit of a relief to know that eating pork won’t expose you to the flu but coming in contact with an infected person can and across the borders in Mexico, the situation is already pretty grim. Reason being that this strain of the flu is a deadlier mutation, it has already killed 81 people in Mexico and infected more than a thousand. These are the official numbers; the real figures could be greater. If this is a new strain, it will take time before researchers find a way to tackle it, as of now the medics are relying on Tamiflu. I think we could also be in for some wholesale swine slaughter – like it happened when the Mad Cow disease hit England or the SARS virus hit South-East Asia. Bad news for livestock owners if it happens, what with the recession and all.

In America, 11 cases have been confirmed till now. Two in Kansas, three in California and a few more in New York city.