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H1N1 is and isn't Swine Flu
Posted by morgantj • 14 days ago • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: bird flu, h1n1, swine flu
So I have been debating with some family members on whether or not the H1N1 virus is the same as the Swine Flu. In the media they seem to portray the two as though they are different. My family members were convinced the H1N1 was different from the Swine Flu, I was under the understand that it was the same but a different string of it. The truth is that they are indeed different, yet they are also the same!
The H1N1 virus is the swine flu but it is also combined with the human and bird flu viruses. It has genes from all three. So while it is indeed the swine flu, it is also a bit more than just that.
Officials stopped calling the H1N1 virus the swine flu because it was unnecessarily damaging the pork industry and led to the slaughter of thousands of pigs.
I hope this helps clear up any confusion, and maybe you might have something to add or refute.
Sources:
coldflu.about.com/od/flu/qt/H1N1swineflu.htm
www.cdc.gov/H1N1flu/qa.htm
User Comments
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H1n1 is swine flu,otherwise they wouldn't have made the song...right?-
Oh yea! All songs are based on truth. You're right!
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That's what I thought
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Semantics. -
Does this really matter? -
My understanding is that H1N1 is a subtype of influenza and what has now been dubbed Swine Flu is just a particular strain of the H1N1 subtype. Where there may be confusion (such as with your parents) is that there are a whole bunch of other flu viruses that because they can affect pigs, can also be called a 'swine flu'. These viruses are not necessarily of the H1N1 subtype. Therefore there are many 'swine flus' out there. It is interesting that H1N1 has genes from human and bird flus too though, did not know that. -
aaachhhooooooooo!!!
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