Type A Influenza H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu)
Information and Resources

The information and news below are offered for informational purposes only, and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or advice of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists. Please consult with your primary care healthcare professional for any decisions involving your health.

Some basic information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website:

What is H1N1 flu?
2009 H1N1 (referred to as “swine flu” early on) is a new influenza virus causing illness in people. This new virus was first detected in people in the United States in April 2009. This virus is spreading from person-to-person worldwide, probably in much the same way that regular seasonal influenza viruses spread. On June 11, 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) signaled that a pandemic of 2009 H1N1 flu was underway.

Why is 2009 H1N1 virus sometimes called “swine flu”?
This virus was originally referred to as “swine flu” because laboratory testing showed that many of the genes in this new virus were very similar to influenza viruses that normally occur in pigs (swine) in North America. But further study has shown that this new virus is very different from what normally circulates in North American pigs. It has two genes from flu viruses that normally circulate in pigs in Europe and Asia and bird (avian) genes and human genes. Scientists call this a "quadruple reassortant" virus.

 


Primary Resources 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Sign up for text messages from CDC on H1N1 flu and more: text HEALTH to 87000. More info: http://is.gd/3nIxg

Follow H1N1CDC on Twitter!

Homeland Security 


PandemicFlu.gov
 
Keep up-to-date with the developing pandemic of swine flu.


State Health Departments and Services
Links to individual state health agencies. 


World Health Organization (WHO)
 

 

 


Other Resources 

American Lung Association

AMAFluHelp.org

American Nurses Association

Mayoclinic.com

Medline Plus

MedicineNet.com

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases 

WebMD 

 


Background Information

"Swine Flu Q&A," PressConnects.com, October 10, 2009

General H1N1 Flu FAQ, Valley City State University

"Surviving Swine Flu," Newsweek, September 19, 2009

"What Do You Want to Know About Swine Flu?", WSAZ.com, September 18, 2009

"How the Pandemic Swine Flu Virus Came to Be," Los Angeles Times, September 14, 2009

"Swine Flu's Re-Emergence: Questions and Answers," Newsday, August 30, 2009

"H1N1: Separating Swine Flu Myth From Fact," Fox News, August 5, 2009

"Swine Flu: How Do You Know When You've Got It Bad?" Los Angeles Times, August 1, 2009

"Swine Flu: Facts, Myths and Whether to Worry," ABC News, April 27, 2009

"Swine Flu Baffles Health Experts," CBS News, April 24, 2009

"Swine flu Q&A: What it is, symptoms, how to fight it," USAToday, April 26, 2009

"Understanding Swine Flu," Wall Street Journal, April 28, 2009

"Swine Flu," Washington Post, April 27, 2009

 

U.S. Military Troops:
H1N1 Flu News
 

A/H1N1 Flu Adds New Woes to Afghanistan, Anti-Terror War, ChinaView, November 11, 2009

Troops in Afghanistan Fight Swine Flu Amid War, Associated Press, November 9, 2009

 


News
Links are valid upon posting, but may change or become invalid shortly thereafter.

Swine Flu Cases Drop on College Campuses for First Time, Los Angeles Times, November 18, 2009

Three Top Questions and Answers About H1N1 Swine Flu for Seniors, Examiner.com, November 18, 2009

Regulation, Suspicion Slow U.S. Flu Response: Hearing, Reuters, November 18, 2009

Demand Outpacing Supply of H1N1, Seasonal Flu Vaccines, American Academy of Family Physicians, November 18, 2009

Cholesterol Lowering Statins May Reduce the Severity of Swine Flu, MarcoIslandFlorida.com, November 17, 2009

Better Not Cough: Santas Lobby for Swine Flu Shots, The Associated Press, November 17, 2009

U.S. Officials Defend Swine Flu Vaccination Plan, Reuters, November 17, 2009

H1N1 Flu Could Give a Boost to Paid Sick Leave Legislation, TwinCities.com, November 16, 2009

Immunity to Swine Flu May Be Broader Than Thought, U.S. News & World Report, November 16, 2009

FDA Approves Fifth Vaccine to Protect From H1N1 Swine Flu Symptoms in Adults, Examiner.com, November 16, 2009

Adults Want Their H1N1 Flu Shots, Too, The Columbus Dispatch, November 16, 2009

FTC Warns Web Sellers of Unproven Flu Products, PC World November 16, 2009

Children Hit Hardest by H1N1 Swine Flu Symptoms, New Study May Show Why, Examiner.com, November 16, 2009

What's Happening with H1N1 Flu, AnnArbor.com, November 16, 2009

Doctors Answer Swine Flu Questions, The Daily News (Galveston County, Texas), November 16, 2009

Hand Puppets Are Latest Victims of Swine Flu, KARE11.com, November 15, 2009

Businesses Should Follow Tips to Survive Flu Season, StatesmanJournal.com, November 15, 2009

State Launches New Website About H1N1, The Nashua Telegraph, November 15, 2009

Md. Inmates, Some Workers to Get Swine Flu Vaccine, The Baltimore Sun, November 14, 2009 

Swine Flu Fear keeps Teenage Hospital Volunteers Home, WTOP.com, November 14, 2009

Disney World Takes Steps to Fight Swine Flu, The Associated Press, November 14, 2009

Swine Flu Symptoms Checklist: Do I Have H1N1, Examiner.com, November 14, 2009

H1N1 Flu's Strength, Speed Stun Mourners, Des Moines Register, November 14, 2009

H1N1 Flu Boosts Sales of Hand Sanitizers, Los Angeles Times, November 14, 2009

Public Health Doctor Defends Swine Flu Response, MSNBC.com, November 13, 2009

Another Swine Flu Vaccine Approved for Children, U.S. News & World Report, November 13, 2009

Swine Flu Sickens 22 Million, Wall Street Journal, November 13, 2009

Tips on Traveling Safely During Swine Flu Season, Newsday, November 12, 2009

Age Makes All the Difference in Severity of Flu, OregonLive.com, November 12, 2009

FDA Chief Defends H1N1 Vaccine Supply, Reuters, November 12, 2009

For Children With Flu, a Trip to the E.R.?, New York Times, November 12, 2009

Tracking and Fighting Swine Flu, Chicago Tribune, November 11, 2009

Catching Swine Flu in a Restaurant, San Francisco Chronicle, November 11, 2009

Skeptics Ask: Does the Swine Flu Vaccine Readlly Work?, The Baltimore Sun, November 11, 2009

Tamiflu-Resistant Swine Flu Found in Canadian Father, U.S. News & World Report, November

New Data to Show 4,000 Deaths from Swine Flu, USAToday, November 11, 2009

Apps to Help Guard Against Flu, and Worse, New York Times, November 11, 2009

FDA Approves Glaxo Flu Vaccine for Use in U.S., Philly.com, November 11, 2009

H1N1 Fears Affecting Blood Donations, MyFoxAtlanta.com, November 11, 2009

Google Launches Online H1N1, Seasonal Flu Vaccine Finder Tool, iHealthBeat, November 11, 2009

Swine Flu Q & A, Chicago Tribune, November 11, 2009

FDA Commissioner Reassures Doctors About Swine Flu Vaccine Safety, Los Angeles Times, November 10, 2009

U.S. Sick Leave Policy Toughens Swine Flu Fight: Senator, Agence France Press (AFP), November 10, 2009

A Formidable Flu Season - Part II: Is it the Flu?, The Mercury, November 9, 2009

Swine Flu: Without Paid Sick Leave, Workers Won't Stay Home, The Christian Science Monitor, November 8, 2009

Signs that Swine Flu May Have Peaked, Sarasota Herald-Tribune, November 8, 2009

Swine Flu Fraud Spreading as Fast as Virus, The Columbus Dispatch, November 8, 2009

Experts Say Don't Fall for Swine Flu 'Cures' or Myths, Stick With Flu Shot, The Canadian Press, November 8, 2009

Health Blog
Is the New H1N1 Vaccine Safe?, Freep.com, November 8, 2009

Flu or Colds: How Can You Tell?TestCountry.com, November 7, 2009 


For previous news items, see
H1N1 Flu News Archive