Swine Fever

 We were told in Australia that it is a type A flu virus(apparently responsible for most if not all pandemics).  A cross between pig,bird and human strain of the flu and that's why it is so virulent. Has anyone else heard this?

Hi Someone, welcome to Mysterious Britain & Ireland.  I think you are probably right about influenza being responsible for most of the recent pandemics at least...but I am not an expert.  I heard that there have been about three influenza pandemics per century for the last 300 years.

 Hi and thanks for the welcome.

I guess we have more access to what's going on in the world through various media. I wonder whether ignorance is bliss sometimes. But then I come to my senses. Thanks for the chat.

 From what I read, that's exactly it; a hybrid of Porcine, Avian and normal influenza. It was bound to happen at some point, as pigs and birds can infect one another with ease, as can pigs and humans. And how many small holdings around the world own both? Doesn't take much to cross contaminate. This is also why it's spread much faster than avian flu did; it's harder to catch flu from a chicken (plus they don't sneeze as such). On the other hand, it's also easier for the human body to synthasize antigens for porcine flu; it just takes longer! 

I think I have swine flu.. I'm covered in rashers....

Won't it be better to get it and improve your immune system/resistance levels?

I have heard of this idea and some people have apparently been having Swine Flu parties i order to catch it while it is still in a mild form.

I heard on the radio they aren't so much worried about what they have going around now, but what will happen when a mutated version hits a populace over protected from viruses in the winter months, so those are probably media fuelled.