"Just how prepared do I have to be to protect myself and my family this flu season?"
A new virus spreads uncertainty. It presents challenges for public health officials and healthcare workers.
Right now the number of swine flu cases in the National Capital region is low . . . but will it worsen? By the end of the year, the city may be in the midst of a pandemic.
Swine Flu: Ready or Not
CBC Ottawa will be vigilant in getting you answers.
CBC Ottawa will keep you informed about swine flu - from getting a vaccine to avoiding crowds and public places.
Tune into CBC Radio, CBC Television and go to cbc.ca/ottawa to get the latest and most up to date information about you and the swine flu.
What is the swine flu?
Swine flu (also referred to as novel H1N1 virus) is a new virus that hasn't spread before among humans. The virus was first detected in people in March 2009.
It's a brand new mutation that's never been seen before. That's why it's not just hitting people in the highest risk groups - those over 65 and younger than two.
Flu is not usually a huge worry among the vast majority of healthy people because over the course of our lives, we are exposed to several flu strains. We develop some immunities. When we get the flu, we'll normally just feel really awful for a week or two. But when you have no immunities at all to a new strain, normally healthy people face as much of a risk as higher risk groups.
How does swine flu kill?
Swine flu - just like any other flu - is a respiratory infection. It exploits a weakened immune system to attack major organs - especially your lungs. When it gets into your lungs, it can lead to pneumonia, which can kill you. The flu can also cause secondary infections in your body - any of which can lead to failure of vital organs and death.
Can people catch swine flu from eating pork?
No. Swine flu viruses are not transmitted by food. You cannot get swine flu from eating pork or pork products. You won't get swine flu from handling uncooked pork either. You can get sick from putting uncooked or undercooked pork in your mouth, but you won't get swine flu.
On May 7, 2009, the World Health Organization once again said that it is generally safe to eat pork. The world health body said existing sanitary and animal health checks were sufficient to safeguard the food supply against the swine flu virus. The statement came a day after an official said it was possible the virus could survive freezing if a slaughtered animal was sick. However, it is illegal to slaughter a sick or dead animal.
If you eat meat from an animal that was sick or had died before it was slaughtered you are taking major risks, the least of which is swine flu.
It's also impossible to catch swine flu from eating fruits and vegetables imported from Mexico or any other country that has recorded cases of swine flu. Swine flu - like all influenza viruses - is not a food-borne illness.
What are the symptoms of swine flu in humans?
The symptoms of swine flu in people are expected to be similar to the symptoms of regular human seasonal influenza and include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and coughing. Some people with swine flu also have reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
How does swine flu spread?
Influenza viruses can be directly transmitted from pigs to people and from people to pigs. Human infection with swine flu viruses are most likely to occur when people are in close proximity to infected pigs, such as in pig barns and livestock exhibits at fairs.
Human-to-human transmission of swine flu can also occur. This is thought to occur in the same way as seasonal flu occurs in people, which is mainly person-to-person transmission through coughing or sneezing of people infected with the flu virus. People may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.
Swine flu in Ottawa
- Ottawa to reopen H1N1 vaccine clinics
- (Monday, November 16, 2009)
- Ottawa H1N1 vaccination suspended as of Friday
- (Wednesday, November 11, 2009)
- Flu overload cancels Ottawa surgeries
- (Tuesday, November 10, 2009)
- Ottawa H1N1 clinics ready to reach older kids
- (Monday, November 9, 2009)
- More H1N1 vaccine clinics for Ottawa's pregnant women
- (Friday, November 6, 2009)
- H1N1 assessment centres open in Ottawa
- (Thursday, November 5, 2009)
- Ottawa to open H1N1 vaccine clinic for pregnant women
- (Thursday, November 5, 2009)
- Ottawa flu clinics hand out more wristbands
- (Tuesday, November 3, 2009)
- Some Ottawa-area H1N1 clinics maxed out
- (Monday, November 2, 2009)
- Ottawa H1N1 wristbands get mixed reaction
- (Friday, October 30, 2009)
- Cost of Ottawa H1N1 clinics could top $4M: councillor
- (Friday, October 30, 2009)
- Ottawa H1N1 vaccine chaos prompts changes
- (Tuesday, October 27, 2009)
- Girl's death from H1N1 worries Cornwall parents
- (Tuesday, October 27, 2009)
- H1N1 patient surge prompts CHEO to make changes
- (Tuesday, October 27, 2009)
- No H1N1 vaccine for Ontarians with egg allergies
- (Wednesday, October 28, 2009)
- Ottawa H1N1 vaccine chaos prompts changes
- (Tuesday, October 27, 2009)
- Ottawa H1N1 clinics closed for the day
- (Monday, October 26, 2009)
- Eastern Ont. child dies after H1N1 diagnosis
- (Monday, October 26, 2009)
- H1N1 vaccinations in Ottawa start Monday
- (Wednesday, October 21, 2009)
- Swine flu raises questions about sick leave policies
- (Friday, September 25, 2009)
- Swine flu could slam homeless
- (Friday, September 18, 2009)
- Swine flu changes greetings, hockey habits
- (Thursday, September 17, 2009)
- Blasé students a hurdle for swine flu prevention
- (Wednesday, September 16, 2009)
- Swine flu could pose challenge for older hospitals
- (Tuesday, September 15, 2009)
- Address swine flu vaccine fears, doctor urges
- (Monday, September 14, 2009)
Swine flu
- Ready or not
- Swine flu: FAQs
- A by-the-numbers look at the swine flu
- Hygiene lessons to prevent school spread
- The vaccine: the road to rollout
- How it's unfolding: a timeline
- Timeline: key dates in the development of H1N1 vaccine
- Isolating the ill: when to quarantine
- MAP: Tracking H1N1 across Canada
- Investigating swine flu: WHO's pandemic alert levels
- Did pandemic-watchers miss the signs online?
- Swine flu roots traced to Spanish flu
- Will face masks protect you from the flu?
- Inside CBC News: We are not renaming swine flu
In Depth
- 7 things you should know about swine flu
- How swine flu is changing some behaviours
- Pandemic preparation: dealing with infectious disease outbreaks
- What is a virus?
- How viruses mutate
- Misconceptions about the flu
- Tips for building your immune system
- Fighting the flu
- The 1918 flu epidemic
- CBC Archives: Influenza - Battling the last great virus
- CBC Archives: The swine flu fiasco
Stories
- Flu shot plans vary across Canada
- (Sept. 25, 2009)
- Swine flu raises questions about sick leave policies
- (Sept. 25, 2009)
- Seasonal flu shot may increase H1N1 risk
- (Sept. 23, 2009)
- Swine flu protocol signed for First Nations
- (Sept. 19, 2009)
- H1N1 vaccine in babies worries expert
- (Sept. 17, 2009)
- Swine flu outbreak hits Vancouver Island First Nations
- (Sept. 17, 2009)
- H1N1 vaccine priority groups released
- Sept. 16, 2009
- H1N1 vaccines get U.S. approval
- Sept. 15, 2009
- 1 dose of Canada's H1N1 shot protects adults: company
- Sept. 14, 2009
- Address swine flu vaccine fears, doctor urges
- Sept. 11, 2009
- Vaccinate kids early to fight swine flu
- Sept. 10, 2009
- H1N1 infects cells deep in lungs
- Sept. 10, 2009
- Canada's swine flu vaccine coming in October
- Sept. 3, 2009
- Flu vaccine plan will be too slow: CMAJ
- August 31, 2009
- Feds, First Nations leaders at odds on swine flu preparations
- August 29, 2009
- Swine flu vaccine funding boosted
- August 27, 2009
- Swine flu 'czar' needed: CMA Journal
- August 17, 2009
- Canada to order 50.4 million H1N1 vaccine doses
- August 6, 2009
- Alcohol-based sanitizers for flu-hit First Nations delayed over substance abuse fears
- June 23, 2009
- WHO declares swine flu pandemic, no change in Canada's approach
- June 11, 2009
- Swine flu epidemic in decline: Mexico
- May 3, 2009
- No sustained spread of swine flu virus outside North America: WHO
- May 2, 2009
- Canada doing all that's needed to respond to swine flu: PM
- April 30, 2009
- WHO boosts pandemic alert level to 5
- April 29, 2009
Video
- Former patients tell their stories
- What the World of Warcraft video game is teaching pandemic experts
- Swine flu reality check with Dr. Michael Gardam with the Ontario Agency for Health Protection (4:25)
- May 1, 2009