Why Humans Are Getting H1N1 Swine Flu?

The swine influenza, also known as the 2009 H1N1 type A influenza, is a respiratory disease that is caused by the H1N1 virus. The disease got its name from the fact that the virus consists of genes from human, bird and swine flu viruses.

Many swine flu researchers are still in debate as to what exactly causes swine flu in humans. They have, however, identified one reason that may be responsible for the spreading of the disease among humans. Pigs are an excellent intermediate host because the respiratory tracts in pigs are capable of directly being affected by viruses that cause flu in mammals including birds and humans. This happens when, for example, birds shed bird flu viruses that infect their gastrointestinal cells through feces, and pigs pick them as food from their surroundings. This is when the respiratory cells of pigs become infected with these flu viruses and humans in close contact with swine (farmers, veterinarians and pork processors for instance) run the risk of contracting swine flu.