• Welcome
  • Community
  • Blogs
  • Photos
  • Join
  • Log in
Follow MNN    
MNN - Mother Nature Network - Envrionmental News
improve your world
Thursday, February 9, 2012
  • Earth Matters

    Browse All » Animals Weather Energy Politics Space Translating Uncle Sam Wilderness & Resources

  • Health

    Browse All » Allergies Fitness & Well-Being Healthy Spaces

  • Lifestyle

    Browse All » Arts & Culture Travel Natural Beauty & Fashion Recycling Responsible Living

  • GREEN TECH

    Browse All » Computers Gadgets & Electronics Research & Innovations Transportation

  • Eco-Biz & Money

    Browse All » Green Workplace Personal Finance Sustainable Business Practices

  • Food & Drink

    Browse All » Beverages Healthy Eating Recipes

  • Your Home

    Browse All » At Home Organic Farming & Gardening Remodeling & Design

  • family

    Browse All » Babies & Pregnancy Family Activities Pets Protection & Safety

Tweet
Pin It
Email Bookmark and ShareShare
WorldShares lets you earn donations for your favorite nonprofit. Earn up to 20 points now.
Learn More

Earn Points
What's this?
MNN.COM›

MNN BLOGGERS

Robin Shreeves

Swine flu: Can you get it from eating pork?

Can you get swine flu from your breakfast bacon? Find out what the CDC has to say about that and other facts about the current swine flu scare.

Wed, Apr 29 2009 at 8:54 AM EST
 25

ALSO ON MNN:

Environmental causes of swine flu

CDC all a Twitter over swine flu

Swine flu: Are your kids safe?

Are you experiencing pork panic?

Where is swine flu's ground zero?

MNN's complete coverage of the epidemic

 
Swine flu. Over the weekend the reports about the swine flu scare that has killed dozens of people in Mexico and prompted authorities in that country to close schools, libraries, museums and other places where people gather in close proximity were all over the news.
 
This morning my nine-year-old heard it being talked about on the news and got a little worried. The report he heard was about Mexico, so I could honestly say to him, “What they are talking about is happening in Mexico.” That seemed to stop his worries. But the fact of the matter is swine flu is being reported here in the U.S., too.
 
As of April 29, 2009, the CDC is reporting 91 cases of swine flu in humans in the U.S. – 14 in California, 2 in Kansas, 51 in NYC, 1 in Ohio and 6 in Texas. The CDC website says that “this is a rapidly evolving situation and CDC will provide new information as it becomes available.” By the time you read this, the site could have different figures.
 
A lot of people want to know if you can get swine flu from eating pork products that come from pigs that were infected with swine flu. The answer is no, you can’t get it from eating pork or pork products.
 
It spreads the same way that other flu viruses spread. It normally only spreads from pig to pig, but according to the CDC it can infect humans. It seems that this current strain of swine flu is affecting humans more than other strains in the past and is spreading more easily from human to human.
 
So, while you don’t need to be concerned about getting swine flu from the pork you eat, you still should be concerned with protecting yourself from the virus.
 
Here are some steps to take to help prevent the transmission of this swine flu (or any other flu virus).
 
  • Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash immediately.
  • Wash your hands frequently.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth (which is how a flu virus that has gotten on your hands can enter your body).
  • Avoid close contact with sick people.
  • Stay home if you do get sick.
 
The CDC says that the virus is “susceptible to the prescription antiviral drugs oseltamivir and zanamivir.” This is good news. If you’re like me, and you usually just keep plugging away when you have cold or flu symptoms until they pass, you may want to actually go see a doctor if flu-like symptoms arise. Although no one in the U.S. has died from this strain of swine flu yet, officials believe it may be too early in the U.S. to know the true impact the flu will have. 
 
According to the CDC, here are the symptoms to look for.
 
The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu. In the past, severe illness (pneumonia and respiratory failure) and deaths have been reported with swine flu infection in people. Like seasonal flu, swine flu may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions.
 
For more questions and answers on the swine flu and you, visit the CDC Q&A page on swine flu.
 

And, for a possible environmental cause of this flu virus, see Karl Burkart, MNN’s technology blogger, post this morning on what Mexican locals are saying.  

 
Image: Nick Nguyen
CLOSE link:
Previous Post
Are you experiencing pork panic?
   Next Post
Pollan weighs in on Obama's first 100 days
You might also like:
Related Topics: Food Safety, Viruses & Diseases

Comments

Follow this conversation
Add your comment
View:
  • All (25)

anonymous
scary 01/20/2010 11:59 AM

CRIMES AGAINST POSTERITY
SWINE FLU SWINDLE
SWINES FLEW IN TOP HATS
Glaxo is just a marketing hand
so who sold that vacc to the whole world carrying seeds of the next pandemic?
What state, what monster?
When failed, getting away to try again?
Like Oklahoma
your comment must be approved by
OH YEAH?
guess where all the internet monitoring flows to and you guessed where that vaccine maker sits
According to a list compiled by Dr..... More

  • |
  • Reply
  • report this post 

anonymous
scary 01/18/2010 07:40 AM

SWINES IN TOP HATS SWINDLE

Glaxo is just a marketing hand
so who sold that vacc to the whole world carrying seeds of the next pandemic?
What state, what monster?
When failed, getting away to try again?
Like Oklahoma

your comment must be approved by

OH YEAH?

guess where all the internet monitoring flows to and you guessed where that vaccine maker sits

According to a list compiled by Dr. Patricia Doyle at rense.com, a host of strange.... More

  • |
  • Reply
  • report this post 

anonymous
Anonymous 05/02/2009 03:17 AM

It's not swine death, it's swine flu. Just like the regular flu, you won't die from it unless you;re really young/old or have something wrong with your immune system, JUST LIKE THE REGULAR FLU. And you get it from humans, not pigs. You are all acting like ignorant teenagers. Freak out!

  • |
  • Reply
  • report this post 

anonymous
Meda 09/22/2009 14:08 PM

your right but i am not an ignorant tenenager... ALthough i am an ignorant teenager..

  • |
  • Reply
  • report this post 

anonymous
Anonymous 05/21/2009 09:14 AM

if people wont to freak out they can coz anyone can die from it you inconsideret pig shut up

  • |
  • Reply
  • report this post 

anonymous
kelly 05/01/2009 00:26 AM

Enter your comments herewhy dose any one care about how she told her kid about the flu why dose it matter

  • |
  • Reply
  • report this post 

anonymous
Gigi Gerow 05/01/2009 01:50 AM

...it makes the article more interesting. It is called "relate to your readers".

It means she's real person with a real life....just like the rest of us!

  • |
  • Reply
  • report this post 

anonymous
deb 04/30/2009 02:49 AM

WHY ARE THEY GETTING SWINE FLU FROME PIGS i dont get it .... belive its false ///// cause the bible says .... roomers willl go .....

  • |
  • Reply
  • report this post 

anonymous
Anonymous 04/30/2009 07:09 AM

tell that to the dead people.

  • |
  • Reply
  • report this post 

anonymous
Gigi Gerow 05/01/2009 01:47 AM

She says very clearly and it has been reported in many places....you cannot get the swine flu from pig meat (aka pork!).

It is being passed from person to person just like many other flus and viruses.

  • |
  • Reply
  • report this post 

anonymous
Meda 09/22/2009 14:07 PM

You right about that people need to read.

  • |
  • Reply
  • report this post 

anonymous
AnonymousJerry 05/20/2009 23:04 PM

Pandemic level is at 5
The President is not doing nothing right now but depending on the scientists at mexico right now. U.S Scientists and Chems have gone to Mexico the past month researching and slaughtering pigs for testing of where the disease came from. So You guys are actually wrong. THEY ARE TESTING PIGS. THEN EXPLAIN WHY. ....
THXS IM COOL/doorky

  • |
  • Reply
  • report this post 

anonymous
Anonymous 04/28/2009 11:34 AM

Avoid close contact with those you are sick.
- You mean "who' not "you"
start editing!

  • |
  • Reply
  • report this post 

rshreeves
rshreeves 04/28/2009 14:25 PM

Thank you for your concern with my professionalism.

  • |
  • Reply
  • report this post 

anonymous
Yebor 04/28/2009 09:22 AM

Why worry your child about something they have no control over. They should be taught to wash their hands, cover there mouths when they sneeze or cough but other than that why upset them?

  • |
  • Reply
  • report this post 

anonymous
Anonymous 04/28/2009 00:44 AM

In North Carolina the state government tried to hide the fact that citizens had contracted the swine flu. Now they refuse to disclose the locations or even the part(s) of the state where the flu has been contracted, further endangering the citizens and children.

  • |
  • Reply
  • report this post 

anonymous
Anonymous 09/19/2009 08:20 AM

The swine flu has hit the Elizabeth City State University Campus. So it is in Elizabeth City, NC.

  • |
  • Reply
  • report this post 

anonymous
Bri 04/27/2009 14:17 PM

It is probably the dummie in me but should we also be staying away from products that have been imported from Mexico in the last month or so? And also ]Robin.. As a fellow mother and not dumb *** man I think you did very well with your child considering you did not have time to ease his fears entirely before school.

  • |
  • Reply
  • report this post 

anonymous
Anonymous 04/27/2009 13:17 PM

I think we should all just eat kosher. I'm not Jewish myself, but I eat Kosher for the most part - reason being, I noticed in college that my Jewish friends didn't worry nearly as much about their food being safe to eat and about being susceptible to food born illnesses. It did make our spring break trips to Mexico difficult, though.

  • |
  • Reply
  • report this post 

anonymous
Anonymous 04/27/2009 12:16 PM

To the person who responded about apathy. You are absolutely retarded. The poster stated facts, no where did she make it racial. Go vote for Obama again.

  • |
  • Reply
  • report this post 

anonymous
Anonymous 04/27/2009 10:45 AM

Way to teach your kid to be apathetic about what happens to other PEOPLE. You should calm him, but this was not the way.

  • |
  • Reply
  • report this post 

anonymous
Anonymous 04/27/2009 12:17 PM

God you're dumb.

  • |
  • Reply
  • report this post 

rshreeves
rshreeves 04/27/2009 11:36 AM

I can see how it reads that I was just blowing the subject off with my son. That's not the case, though. With kids you have to know when the right moment is to teach them something and the right moment is to prevent a melt down for the rest of the day. To explain any of this to my son five minutes before he had to rush off to school would have been very bad timing. It would have done nothing but keep him focused and worried about this all day long.

Understanding how and when to best.... More

  • |
  • Reply
  • report this post 

anonymous
cuiyang 12/26/2010 21:16 PM

Decorating with a different gem accessory, shimmer, no minus than the form.To assemble the recent female's liking, this reduction and coldn thomas sabo jewellery ess, largely to clothes and.... More

  • |
  • Reply
  • report this post 

anonymous
Gigi Gerow 05/01/2009 01:57 AM

Touche!

  • |
  • Reply
  • report this post 

Add your comment

Sign in with one of these accounts or just add your comment below.
    Log in or
    create an account
     
    Login
Used only for emailed comments and will not be displayed with your post
Notify me with an email when other people comment on this article.
The posting of advertisement, profanity or personal attacks is prohibited.
Click here to review our Terms of Use

tease to ecollywood

tease to squatter

tease to toxic plants for cats

ADVERTISEMENT

TOP MEMBERSJoin Now
  • poland.jr
    21026 points
  • ecomainegirl
    9359 points
  • achase
    9323 points
  • LauraB
    5049 points
  • Momof2
    4514 points
All members
FROM OUR SPONSOR
CREATING VALUE; ENSURING SUSTAINABILITY
Just a Little Heart Attack
Elizabeth Banks educates women about the reality of heart disease more >
Charlie's Lemonade Stand
Introducing Charlie, a nine-year-old super fan of The Brawny Man™. more >
Charlie's Gift
Charlie surprises his mom with a “gift,” but she’s the one in for a little... more >
Slavery by Another Name
Watch an exclusive preview now more >
Dixie PerfecTouch® Insulated Paper Cups
Reduce the need for double cupping and expensive beverage sleeves. more >

GP Facebook link

ADVERTISEMENT



Quick Links

  • About Us
  • Advisory Board
  • Editors' Blog
  • Press
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
  • Terms of Service
  • WorldShares

MNN Tools

  • Advice
  • Blogs
  • Day in History
  • Eco-glossary
  • Infographics
  • Lists
  • Photos
  • Videos

Connect

  • Community
  • Contact Us
  • Contests
  • Idea Lab
  • Mixed Greens
  • Newsletters
  • Polls
  • RSS

Channels

  • Earth Matters
  • Health
  • Lifestyle
  • Green Tech
  • Eco-Biz & Money
  • Your Home
  • Family
  • State Reports
 

Copyright © 2012 MNN Holdings, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Website by GLICK INTERACTIVE | Powered by CIRRACORE
 
SPONSORS