If you take a look around Singapore, you’ll find that some Singaporeans tend to treat the recent swine flu outbreak lightly. Jokes, spawned from this incident are heard frequently around. Quick to forget the rough times and suffering during the SARS period, some students even expressed hope in the virus infecting Singaporeans, hoping that the government will suspend school. I myself thought that way too, until I realized the actual potency of the virus. After all, is the risk of infection worth a few weeks of ‘holiday’?

First SARS, then the bird flu, and now comes the swine flu. The swine flu, or the H1N1 influenza A virus first appeared in Mexico and the US and is currently spreading rapidly worldwide, reaching as far as to our neighbor Malaysia, who presently has 2 confirmed cases. The current death toll is at 73 and rising, prompting WHO to raise its pandemic disease alert level to "Phase 5" out of the six maximum, as a "signal that a pandemic is at the imminent level".

Made up of 4 different kinds of flu viruses consisting of two types of swine influenza, an avian influenza and human influenza, influenza A has the potential to mutate into something even more horrifying than the current H1N1 virus due to its instability. So think twice about wishing for an outbreak in Singapore just so you can skip school.

The symptoms of H1N1 are similar to those of normal influenza, namely fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, headache, and muscle soreness. Some of the infected patients also had vomiting or diarrhea, an unusual sight with the usual flu symptoms. The incubation period between infection and the appearance of symptoms is about two to seven days. Also, the age profile of deaths as a result of H1N1 shows that the mortality rate for people aged between 25 and 50 is the highest while recent cases in Mexico point at a higher risk of infection for people below the age of 20. That’s around the age of teenagers, which means if the virus were to spread to Singapore, all citizens aged 20 and below will be the prime targets of H1N1.

Like normal flu, influenza A is assumed to be transmitted via airborne transmission, although much about its method of transmission is still unknown. Leading international health agencies have stated that influenza viruses are not known to spread via consumption. Contrary to popular belief, the H1N1 virus cannot be transmitted to humans via ingestion of processed pork or other products stemming from pigs. Thus, the public should be assured that it is in fact safe to continue to consume pork, though there will be some pig-headed people out there who still stubbornly refuse to do so.

The measures taken to prevent infection by the H1N1 are similar to those steps taken to prevent normal flu. First up is ensuring good personal hygiene by washing your hands with soap regularly, especially after being out in public. Avoid touching the mouth, nose or eyes with unwashed hands as they are stated to be the main modes of transmission. Cough or sneeze into a tissue to avoid letting the virus escape into the air to prevent infecting others. A good working thermometer is a woman’s/man’s best friend during this period to help determine if you have a fever, one of the first symptoms of H1N1. Of course, a mask helps as well, as the awkward fashion accessory could very well save your life by minimizing inhalation of the virus that could be lingering in the air.

Still want the Swine flu to hit Singapore so that school will be suspended? Hope not. Although the Swine flu may not seem very dangerous at the present, but given time, there is a large possibility that the virus will mutate into something stronger and more virulent. Albert Osterhaus, a virologist at Erasmus University in the Netherlands, compared the new virus to the 1918 Spanish flu and was quoted saying, "When the Spanish flu started in 1918 it was a relatively wimpy virus. Then it heated up," (killing 40 million people), "I wouldn't be too comfortable that this swine flu virus isn't hot yet."

On a lighter note, I suppose you should be grateful if someone calls you a pig during this period. After all, pigs, unlike humans, have the necessary antibodies to battle swine flu.

Written by Amanda Ng