An unidentified American student from the private Pacific Ridge School in Carlsbad, California, left, celebrates by posing for photos with a Chinese nurse after he was released from quarantine in Yichang, central China's Hubei province Thursday June 18, 2009. The students who were quarantined in the central Chinese city after some of their classmates were diagnosed with swine flu have been cleared for release, an employee of the city's swine flu command center said Thursday. (AP Photo)
What is the new influenza A(H1N1)?
This is a new influenza A(H1N1) virus that has never before circulated among humans. This virus is not related to previous or current human seasonal influenza viruses.
How do people become infected with the virus?
The virus is spread from person-to-person. It is transmitted as easily as the normal seasonal flu and can be passed to other people by exposure to infected droplets expelled by coughing or sneezing that can be inhaled, or that can contaminate hands or surfaces.
To prevent spread, people who are ill should cover their mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, stay home when they are unwell, clean their hands regularly, and keep some distance from healthy people, as much as possible.
There are no known instances of people getting infected by exposure to pigs or other animals.
The place of origin of the virus is unknown.
What are the signs and symptoms of infection?
Signs of influenza A(H1N1) are flu-like, including fever, cough, headache, muscle and joint pain, sore throat and runny nose, and sometimes vomiting and diarrhoea. Sources : WHO, Photo : Daylife.com
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