The Swine Flu Pandemic was a pandemic that lasted about a year and a half. It started in January 2009 and lasted until August 2010. The Swine Flu that swept the world off it's feet in 2009 is an amalgamation of 4 different influenza viruses: the Avian Flu, Human Flu, another form of Swine Flu, and another pig-related Eurasian pig flu virus. The Swine Flu is particularly nasty, however, because once you recover from the initial Swine Flu, you still run a very high risk of contracting bacterial pneumonia, which is equally as nasty as the Swine Flu by itself. Studies done estimate the total number of confirmed cases was between 700 million and 1.4 billion people. This particular strain of influenza did not target a specific age range or group. The Swine Flu was isolated to jumping from pigs to humans in 2009, in a very remote region of central Mexico.
Some symptoms of the Swine Flu are as follows: chills, cough, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, headaches, nausea and vomiting. These symptoms are consistent with flu-like symptoms, and since 2010, the Swine Flu has been relegated to being another strain of seasonal influenza. Transmission occurs when contaminated droplets of saliva are inhaled by a person. The virus first infects the cells in the lining of your nose, throat and lungs. The Swine Flu can worsen prior conditions, and it can also turn into a respiratory condition, called ARDS. Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome is a self-manifestating condition that causes rapid onset inflammation of the lungs. This causes fluid build-up, which can prove to be fatal if not treated.