Swine Flu - Questions and Answers
The Croner Consulting H&S Helpline has received many calls from concerned
employers regarding swine flu. Health and Safety Expert Stephen Thomas
answers some of the more common questions.
What is swine flu?
Swine flu is a respiratory disease that normally infects
pigs. The version of swine flu that has recently spread
to humans has now been identified as a new version of
the virus which is considered by the Health Protection
Agency (HPA) to be highly contagious and can easily
spread from person to person.
What are the symptoms of swine flu?
The symptoms are very similar to those of human
seasonal flu including fever, fatigue, lack of appetite,
coughing and a sore throat. Vomiting and diarrhoea have
also been reported in some cases. The majority of fatal
cases of swine flu have occurred in Mexico, while the
symptoms of those who have been confirmed as having
swine flu in other countries have been relatively mild.
Health experts do not yet fully understand why this is.