Q: What is swine flu?
A: Swine flu is a virus that affects the lungs. It is spread from the droplets that leave your mouth when you cough or sneeze. The name has been coined as it is similar to a strain of influenza that exists among pigs. Anyone can be affected by the virus. In the vast majority of cases, the illness is mild and the symptoms are similar to a seasonal flu, but in a minority of cases the illness can be severe.
The government is currently developing a vaccine for swine flu and it should be ready later this year. However, there are drugs to treat swine flu if a person is already displaying symptoms. Government advice is to take the drugs for the virus within two days of showing symptoms. Although this does not provide a cure, it alleviates symptoms and helps the person to recover more quickly.
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