H1N1 Flu Virus 2009 - Resource Center Headlines | About | Guides | Maps and Charts | Symptoms and Treatment | Frequently Asked Questions | Travel Safety | Child Safety | More Coverage Influenza A, or swine flu, is a respiratory disease of pigs that can also infect humans. The latest strain is an unidentified subtype of the influenza A virus known as H1N1, and is believed to be a mix of pig, bird and human viruses. Officials suspect the outbreak started in Mexico. The virus cannot be contracted from eating or preparing pork products and can best be prevented by avoiding contact with those believed to be sick, in addition to frequent hand-washing. Other precautions include covering your mouth when you cough and staying home if you feel ill. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the use of the antiviral drugs oseltamivir or zanamivir for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with these swine influenza viruses. Drugmakers have been fast-tracking the development of a vaccine to protect against the new strain, which is expected to made available by mid-October. Governments worldwide have already placed orders for millions of doses. The World Health Organization has raised the pandemic threat awareness level to 6, officially declaring the H1N1 outbreak a pandemic. "The world is better prepared for an influenza pandemic than at any time in history," noted WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan.  Headlines Reuters Medline Plus World Health Organization Swine Flu Headlines.com Swine Flu Maps  About Swine Flu Wikipedia CDC Medline Plus NHS (UK)  Swine Flu Guides Dept. of Defense WebMD The Stamford Advocate EveryDay Health  Track the Outbreak CDC (chart) U.S. confirmed cases and deaths WHO - Pandemic Level (chart) PandemicFlu.gov (map) The Wall Street Journal (map) Health Map (global map) Click on map to read related news articles Google Flu Trends for Mexico (chart & map) Google Flu Trends for U.S. (chart & map) NPR (global map) USA Today (global map) Includes travel guidelines BBC (global map) Confirmed cases and deaths  Symptoms, Prevention and Treatment Mercury News CDC Key Facts CDC Factsheet CDC - Antiviral Drugs  Frequently Asked Questions WHO CDC USDA WebMD Reuters USA Today  Travel Safety U.S. State Dept. CDC Travelers' Health CDC Swine flu and travel WHO  Child Safety Education.com Swine Flu and Children: Should Parents Be Worried? U.S. Dept. of Education Statement from Secretary of Education Arne Duncan regarding flu and its impact on schools WebMD Q&A with top pediatricians: Answers to common questions parents have about H1N1 CDC Info. for concerned parents and caregivers ED.gov Emergency plan information CDC Guidance School dismissal and childcare facility closure U.S. Dept. of Education New e-mail address for reporting flu-related school closings and questions CNN Guide for parents  More Coverage BBC Response by country CDC Video Joe Bresee, M.D., CDC Influenza Division WHO RSS Feeds Latest news on swine flu in humans worldwide WHO MP3, pdf Swine influenza virtual press briefings    --- Jennifer Borders

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