NOTE: It is important to keep updated on current recommendations and risk assessment as more is learned about the current outbreak of H1N1.  Here is what is known thus far:

Human cases of an influenza A H1N1 have been identified in many states and countries (World Health Organization interactive map of H1N1 timeline).  This is a new influenza A virus that has not been identified in people before, and human-to-human transmission of the virus is widespread and appears to be ongoing. Some facts:

• The United States Department Of Health and Human Services has declared a public health emergency for swine flu.  Taken directly from the release --  "The formal declaration of a Public Health Emergency (PHE) is a tool that facilitates HHS’ preparation and mobilization for disasters and emergencies.  For example, PHEs were recently declared for flooding in North Dakota, the Inauguration, and several 2008 hurricanes.

This declaration, made under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act, will help HHS prepare for prevention and mitigation activities by enabling Food and Drug Administration (FDA) emergency use authorizations of drugs, devices, or medical tests under certain circumstances."

• The World Health Organization  has elevated the Pandemic Influenza Alert Phase to 6. 

  Phase 6, the pandemic phase, is characterized by community level outbreaks in at least one other country in a different WHO region in addition to the criteria defined in Phase 5. Designation of this phase will indicate that a global pandemic is under way.

• The current swine flu outbreak is due to human-to human transmission, not swine-to-human transmission.   
• There is no swine health crisis due to this influenza, however May 3, 2009, WHO released this statement regarding a hog farm in Canada -- 

• "Canada on 2 May reported the identification of the A(H1N1) virus in a swine herd in Alberta. It is highly probable that the pigs were exposed to the virus from a Canadian farm worker recently returned from Mexico, who had exhibited flu-like symptoms and had contact with the pigs. There is no indication of virus adaptation through transfer from human to pigs at this time.

  There is no risk of infection from this virus from consumption of well-cooked pork and pork products. " 

• May 5, 2009 OIE notification statement of  possible transmission of A/H1N1 from humans to pigs in Canada.

•  H1N1 is a new virus that is a mix of viruses, one human, one avian and two swine.  This virus does not contain the deadly Highly Pathogenic Avian Flu virus H5N1.  

• Soon after the emergence of the H1N1 Agricuture Research Scientists at the National Animal Disease Center in Ames, Iowa, began research using virus samples provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The first step was to evaluate whether current U.S H1N1 swine influenza vaccines can protect pigs from infection with the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus circulating in people. This research study also evaluated whether pre-existing titers in pigs previously infected with endemic H1N1 swine influenza viruses circulating in the U.S could protect against the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus.

• The symptoms of swine flu in people are expected to be similar to the symptoms of regular human seasonal flu and include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and coughing. Some people with swine flu also have reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
• Is there a vaccine?  Currently, there is no vaccine to protect humans from swine flu. The seasonal influenza vaccine will likely help provide partial protection against swine H3N2, but not swine H1N1 viruses.
• Is Pork safe to eat?  Swine influenza viruses are not transmitted by food. You cannot get swine influenza from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork and pork products are safe. Cooking pork to an internal temperature of 160°F kills the swine flu virus as it does other bacteria and viruses.  The current outbreak of swine flu raises awareness of biosecurity issues for swine producers and thus the recommendations for producers from pork.org.

As of July 2,2009 there are more than 33,000 cases of the confirmed cases of  influenza A H1N1 virus infection in the United States, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands and case-patients have been hospitalized and there have been 170deaths. 

Can this outbreak be a Pandemic?  Yes, novel influenza A virus infections in humans, including H1N1 virus do represent a pandemic threat.  Individuals and communities must recognize and understand the historical precedent for the emergence of a pandemic influenza virus, a virus which could have waves of disease with different morbidity and mortality.  That is to say this may not be the only outbreak of this disease and levels of morbidity and mortality can and may change in subsequent waves or outbreaks. The elevation of the Pandemic Alert Phase to 6 June 12, 2009 indicates H1N1 is now considered a pandemic as determined by the World Health Organization.

How to protect yourself and your family?  Follow these basic steps of health hygiene:

• Avoid close contact. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too
• Stay home when you are sick. If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness.
• Cover your mouth and nose. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick.
• Clean your hands. Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.
• Practice other good health habits. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.
• The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released a list of Fraudulent 2009 H1N1 Influenza Products to protect consumers from purchasing products and services that will provide not protection from the vrisu or impart a false sense of security. 

EDEN will be updating this page with swine flu information and the recently confirmed human cases. Please check back as information gets posted and updates are made. If you have any questions or comments regarding the issue or page content, please contact Kim Cassel or  Abigail Borron .

For more detailed information on Swine Flu, please refer to these suggested resources

USDA -

• Swine Influenza (Flu)
• Statement by Secretary of Agriculture Vilslack Regarding Human Cases of Swine Influenza A (H1N1)
• Frequently Asked Questions Swine and Human Cases of Swine Influenza A (H1N1) - 4/28/09

CDC - Swine Influenza: General Information  (the following links are included on this page):

• Swine Flu and You
• Swine Flu Video Podcast
• Key Facts about Swine Influenza (Swine Flu)
• Swine Flu in Pigs and People

World Health Organization - Swine Influenza (the following links are included on this page):

• Latest Information
• Swine Influenza questions and answers

EDEN Member Institution Pages

• Clemson University - Clemson Livestock Poultry Health Response to Influenza A, "the swine flu"
• University of Kentucky - College of Agriculture H1N1 Resources
• Texas A&M - Influenza (Human)

Are we prepared?

Since 2006, the United States Department of Health and Human Services has been working to develop a national preparedness plan and monies have been given to states to assist in their Pandemic Influenza planning and preparation.  Individual state plans may be found at Pandemic.gov   

The Department of Health and Human Services has issued a draft report on actions the nation should take to prepare for a potential pandemic influenza outbreak. Some of its recommendations are listed on the page -"The Nation Prepares"

How can we prepare?

Preparing for Pandemic Influenza is unlike planning and preparing for other disasters as the pandemic disaster will be global, not local or regional.  There will be few local, state or national resources to rely on for help; and many people will be sick or home caring for sick family members.  The duration of a pandemic disaster will not be short-term and will come in waves.  To be prepared for Pandemic Influenza is to be prepared for any disaster. 

If you have not prepared, Pandemic.gov  has checklists to assist individuals, families, schools, businesses, child-care facilities, and community groups plan and prepare for pandemic influenza.  The site Ready America  also has information for families on building a disaster kit, making a communication plan and being informed about disasters in your local area.  Detailed information on family planning and preparation may be found on the following EDEN Institution Pages, including holding family planning meetings, food and water needs and storage, cooking and cleaning with no utilities, workplace issues and saving for an emergency. 

EDEN Institution Pages On Pandemic Preparedness

• New Mexico State University
• North Carolina State University DIsaster Information Center
• South Dakota State University
• Utah State University

Additional EDEN resources for Pandemic Planning and Preparation include:  Ready Business – Preparing a Disaster Business Plan,   Pandemic Preparedness for a Business, and Pandemic Preparedness for Faith-Based Organizations.

Are there vaccines to protect us?

Swine Flu Vaccine.  Vaccines are available to be given to pigs to prevent swine influenza.  At this time, there is no vaccine to protect humans from H1N1 flu. The seasonal influenza vaccine will likely help provide partial protection against swine H3N2, but not swine H1N1 viruses.  The H1N1 swine flu viruses are antigenically very different from human H1N1 viruses and, therefore, vaccines for human seasonal flu would not provide protection from H1N1 swine flu viruses.

HPAI H5N1 Flu Vaccine.   At this time there is no vaccine for HPAI H5N1.  This, too, is a new virus and our current vaccines will not afford protection.  But unlike the swine flu, the main mode of transmission is animal to human, not human-to-human. At this time, there is no significant threat to humans.  

Flu vaccines have to be made specifically for the particular virus that is causing a flu outbreak. Steps will be taken to produce a vaccine to protect against a new pandemic strain of flu as quickly as possible, but a vaccine is unlikely to be available for the first wave of illness. WHO May 2., 2009 -- Q & A on vaccine production.A pandemic flu outbreak is likely to occur in two or more waves of infection several months apart, each lasting about two to three months. In past outbreaks each subsequent wave has tended to be more severe. Depending on the timing of the second and subsequent waves of a flu pandemic, scientists may be able to develop a vaccine so that people can get vaccinated after the first wave.

Internet Resources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

United States Departmant of  Health and Human Services -- Pandemic.gov

Ready America

University of Minnesota Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy (CIDRAP)

• Pandemic Influenza 
• Avian Influenza

World Health Organization

Purdue University / SVM / ADDL

Swine Influenza virus group A 1997

Influenza is a disease caused by a virus. Every winter, “the flu” attacks, infecting the respiratory tract and causing generalized symptoms (fever, chills, and aches) in the people and animals it affects. Most people recover completely, but every year “seasonal flu” is responsible for about 36,000 deaths in the U.S., depending on the strain of virus and the immune system of the infected individual.

An influenza pandemic is a global outbreak of disease that occurs when a new influenza A virus appears in the human population, it causes serious human illness, and spreads easily from person to person worldwide. Because people have little or no immune protection from such new viruses, there can be high levels of illness, death, social disruption, and economic loss. The last major flu pandemic occurred in 1918 and killed as many as 40 million people worldwide, including more than 500,000 in the United States. 

Avian influenza refers to any influenza virus that affects birds. Birds are considered to be the reservoirs for most influenza viruses, and sometimes can show symptoms from flu just as human’s do—sneezing, lack of appetite, nasal discharge. Occasionally, a new and more lethal virus emerges—such as the subtype of influenza virus that has caused substantial poultry deaths in China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Egypt and other countries. There is concern that the current strain of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 (HPAI H5N1) circulating in these countries could mutate or change, allowing human-to-human transmission to occur easily and spark a pandemic. Nearly all of the human deaths that have occurred to date from HPAI H5N1 have been the result of close contact with diseased or dead birds or bird products.  Current statistics on human cases of HPAI H5N1 are found on WHO, with 421 people infected and 257 deaths. 

Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses that cause regular outbreaks in pigs. People do not normally get swine flu, but human infections can and do happen. Swine flu viruses have been reported to spread from person-to-person, but in the past, this transmission was limited and not sustained beyond three people. 

Experts have said HPAI H5N1 could be the next pandemic, once the virus has sustained human-to-human transmission, or another virus could emerge with pandemic potential. The current outbreak of swine flu has turned our attention away from HPAI H5N1, to the newly emerged swine flu virus. On April 30, 2009 the World Health Organization elevated the Pandemic Alert Phase from 4, sustained to widespread human-to-human transmission and indicating we are on the verge of a pandemic. 

A pandemic is an outbreak of a disease that occurs in many different countries at the same time. An epidemic is an infectious disease that spreads very rapidly. Pandemic influenza is a global epidemic of the disease that occurs when a new influenza A virus appears in humans and then spreads easily and rapidly from person to person worldwide. Because people have never been exposed to this new virus, everyone is susceptible. The symptoms of pandemic influenza are similar to those of seasonal flu but are usually more severe and can lead to a more serious illness. Not all outbreaks of pandemic influenza have the same degree of severity - some are far more serious than others. Three pandemic outbreaks occurred during the past century. The most recent was the Hong Kong flu in 1968-69 resulting in 1- 4 million deaths globally. The most severe outbreak was the Spanish Flu in 1918-19 resulting in 20-40 million deaths globally. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has estimated that a pandemic as severe as the 1918 pandemic virus would cause between 0.9 and 2.2 million deaths and between 4 million and 10 million hospitalizations in the United States. Globally between 180 million to 360 million deaths are possible. Unlike seasonal outbreaks of the flu, all segments of the population are at risk to become seriously ill and die during a pandemic influenza outbreak.