Following confirmation by U.S. health officials that cases of swine flu have been identified in California, Texas and Mexico, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) is asking health care providers across the state to have a high index of suspicion regarding cases of influenza like illness. All of the cases reported in the U.S. have recovered.

Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza virus that regularly causes outbreaks of influenza in pigs. Due to the ability of the virus to mutate, sporadic human infections can occur. The symptoms of swine flu are similar to seasonal influenza and typically include fever, cough, sore throat, nasal congestion and runny nose. Additional symptoms may include diarrhea, vomiting, headache, chills, fatigue, pneumonia and respiratory failure. Persons with swine flu are contagious for up to seven days after the onset of illness and possibly longer if they are still symptomatic.

“There have been no cases of swine flu virus reported in Virginia,” »Read More