Any cold or a flu like symptom sends a shiver down the spine of the infected leaving them wondering if they have contracted the widely discussed SWINEFLU. That is the sort of attention it has caught, as the infected are widely screened, kept in isolation and also reported in the print and television media.

Swine flu is caused by H1N1 virus which is a new mutant virus having human, swine and avian virus protein strain. It is characterized by the usual influenza symptoms like rigor (shivering),body pain,cough, fever, headache and running nose. It spreads by coughing and sneezing when the contagious droplets are transferred from the infected person to a healthy individual.

It is fatal in the very young and old who have a low immunity, but it is well tolerated. The Swine flu is treated by supportive care and by administering antiviral drug, 'OSELTAMIR' is the drug specially recommended for the treatment of this flu.

The infection is ascertained by serology and culture test. It takes a minimum of five days for the virus to manifest in the host's body. The infected are kept in isolation till the fever subsides. They are watched closely and kept in isolation not because it is a critical condition but to curb the spreading of this new H1N1 Virus.