Swine flu - the facts

There is a new phrase that is striking fear into the hearts of travellers worldwide - swine flu.

Upwards of 100 cases have been reported in South Africa, but there is still no need to panic or put off your travel plans. As with most diseases, prevention and knowledge really is the best defence, so GoTravel24 has compiled the answers to your burning swine flu questions.

What is swine flu?

Swine influenza or swine flu is a respiratory disease found in pigs and is caused by the type A influenza virus.

It is rare for swine flu to spread to humans and usually requires direct contact between a human and an infected pig and is then spread from human to human.

Where has swine flu spread?

Swine flu is spread through direct person-to-person contact when someone sneezes or coughs on another person or when something is containing the virus is touched.

WHO map of the areas affected by swine flu

What are the symptoms of swine flu?

Swine flu symptoms vary from person to person. Some people experience a fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and coughing while others a runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and even diarrhoea.

What do you do if you suspect you have swine flu?

Most diagnoses are made thanks to a combination of these flu-like symptoms and the person's recent susceptibility to the disease. For example, if you are coughing and have a fever after recently being in a known swine-affected area, it is advisable that you see a doctor immediately.

A simple respiratory sample will need to be taken and laboratory tested to confirm the presence of swine flu.

Should I change my travel plans?

Before you travel you should simply make sure that you have all the relevant information. Do some research beforehand and consider postponing your trip if possible.

A good place to start is the American Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)  that offers travel alerts to warn of high risk areas and offers potential travellers some much-needed advice.

What travel advisories are other countries giving their citizens?

Countries such as the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States have all advised their citizens to cancel any non-essential travel to Mexico until the swine flu scare has passed. The European Union also went as far as to extend this advisory to include parts of the US.

Russia, Hong Kong and Taiwan have stated that they are prepared to quarantine any visitors showing symptoms of swine flu in an effort to curb a possible pandemic. Canada, among other countries, is also calling for all recent travellers to Mexico to check in with their nearest doctor to be cleared of this virus.

Airports worldwide are beginning to screen passengers for flu-like symptoms and airlines are showing leniency towards those who wish to cancel or postpone their flights to affected areas.

In Mexico, many areas have closed down their schools, museums and tourist attractions as a safety precaution and all government-sponsored events involving large crowds have been postponed.

What should I do if I am travelling to an affected area?

Sometimes travelling is unavoidable, but luckily there is plenty that you can do to protect yourself. Swine flu is spread in much the same way as normal flu, so by employing the same tactics you can effectively avoid swine flue.

• Always cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and throw that tissue away immediately.
• You should get into a habit of washing your hands more frequently than you would normally do. Use soap and water, especially after sneezing, coughing or using the toilet.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth as this facilitates the spreading of germs.
• Try to avoid close contact with people who are exhibiting flu-like symptoms. This could mean not using public transport or wearing a protective mask while in public.
• Carry an alcohol-based hand sanitiser with you to use at regular intervals to destroy viruses and bacteria that you may inadvertently pick up.

Should I avoid eating pork while travelling?

Swine flu is NOT transmitted through pork products, making it completely safe to eat. For those who are nervous, cooking pork to an internal temperature of 71 degrees Celsius will kill any bacteria and viruses present in the pork meat.

Can swine flu be treated?

Swine flu can be treated and the CDC recommends the use of the use of Tamiflu (oseltamivir) or Relenza (zanamivir) for both treatment and prevention. Relenza is not available in South Africa, but Tamiflu is easily obtainable and just as effective.