Rare propaganda about Swine Flu in 1976.

Influenza A (H1N1) current status
(Source Wikipedia)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Lightwarrior2#Special_:...

Swine influenza (SI) is a virus disease that can cause epidemics of acute respiratory disease in pigs. The disease is due to viruses from the type A of the Orthomyxoviridae family, (there are three types of Orthomyxoviridae, A, B and C). Etiology of SI is complex according to the high genetic variation of the causative viruses, mainly on two glycoprotein : hemagglutin (H) and neuramidase (N). A nomenclature for virus designation has been established by WHO in 1980.
The disease causes high morbidity but low mortality. It can also persist as an endemic infection and is a potential zoonosis.

Classification
SPC List D disease, WHO surveyed disease
Susceptible species
Pigs are the main host. However, strains of swine influenza virus can also be directly transmissible to humans, and reciprocally. SI was responsible for the human outbreak in 1918-20 that killed more than 20 million people over the world (Spanish flu). A recent strain has also been responsible for an outbreak in 1976.
There is increasing evidence of interchange of influenza viruses between pigs, other mammalian (including marine mammals) and avian hosts, either directly or after a process of genetic reassortment or mutation.




Distribution
Epidemics of swine influenza occur fairly regularly each winter in North America and Europe. Outbreaks have also been reported in many other parts of the world, including South Africa, Kenya, India, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and South America.
Clinical signs
There is a very high morbidity rate and most pigs in a herd get the disease almost simultaneously. Outbreaks typically occur colder months but it some cases SI remains endemic. Young pigs are more severely affected.
The first signs are:

Fever
Anorexia leading to loss of weight,
Inactivity, prostration and huddling leading to weakness.
Then there is a sudden onset of acute respiratory signs:

- Paroxysmal coughing,

- Sneezing,

- Irregular abdominal breathing,

- Ocular and nasal discharges. (less info)