tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
As someone who raises pigs, whether for show (e.g. 4-H or FFA) or as part of a farming operation (i.e. commercial pork producer), you may have questions about the flu in both pigs and people. This document addresses what is known about flu viruses in pigs and people and what people in contact with pigs can do to reduce the risk of getting sick or of getting their pigs sick.
Influenza Virus Infections in Pigs
There are many causes of respiratory disease in pigs, including influenza. Among influenza types, only type A influenza viruses are known to infect pigs. Although pigs and people now share the H1N1 pandemic virus, other viruses circulating in swine are different and distinguishable from viruses circulating in people. At this time, there are three main flu A virus subtypes that circulate in U.S. pigs: influenza A H1N1, influenza A H1N2 and influenza A H3N2. These viruses do not usually infect people and are genetically different from the H1N1 and H3N2 viruses that commonly circulate in people. Because some flu viruses that are common in pigs are so different from the flu viruses that are common in people, most people have little to no immune protection against these viruses. Also human flu vaccines probably would not offer protection against the viruses that are found in pigs.
Flu viruses commonly infect pigs and pig herds and can result in high rates of illness among pigs, but few deaths.
Signs of influenza in pigs include:
Coughing (?barking?)
Sneezing
High fevers
Breathing difficulties
Discharge from the nose
Going off feed
However, pigs also may become infected with flu viruses from birds, and from people. This cross-species spread and possible mixing of flu viruses can lead to new types of flu viruses that might gain the ability to spread easily between people.
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http://www.cdc.gov/flu/swineflu/people-raise-pigs-flu.htm
Influenza Virus Infections in Pigs
There are many causes of respiratory disease in pigs, including influenza. Among influenza types, only type A influenza viruses are known to infect pigs. Although pigs and people now share the H1N1 pandemic virus, other viruses circulating in swine are different and distinguishable from viruses circulating in people. At this time, there are three main flu A virus subtypes that circulate in U.S. pigs: influenza A H1N1, influenza A H1N2 and influenza A H3N2. These viruses do not usually infect people and are genetically different from the H1N1 and H3N2 viruses that commonly circulate in people. Because some flu viruses that are common in pigs are so different from the flu viruses that are common in people, most people have little to no immune protection against these viruses. Also human flu vaccines probably would not offer protection against the viruses that are found in pigs.
Flu viruses commonly infect pigs and pig herds and can result in high rates of illness among pigs, but few deaths.
Signs of influenza in pigs include:
Coughing (?barking?)
Sneezing
High fevers
Breathing difficulties
Discharge from the nose
Going off feed
However, pigs also may become infected with flu viruses from birds, and from people. This cross-species spread and possible mixing of flu viruses can lead to new types of flu viruses that might gain the ability to spread easily between people.
..
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/swineflu/people-raise-pigs-flu.htm