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图：A H1N1型猪流感病毒的电子显微图。
什么是猪流感？
猪流感是由A型流感病毒引起的猪呼吸道传染病，病毒的定期爆发会引起猪患病。猪流感的种类很多，现在的病例则与A型病毒的H1N1类有关。
人为何会患病？
虽然患病概率不高，但人类还是有可能被该类病毒感染，同猪有密切接触者尤甚。从最近一次疫情爆发中可以看到，病毒会变异，并在人与人之间传染。专家认为，猪流感和季节性流感一样，都是通过咳嗽和喷嚏传播。
有何症状？
人患猪流感的症状同正常人类患季节性流感的症状相似，包括发烧、疲劳、食欲不振、咳嗽和喉咙痛，还有报告表示猪流感患者产生呕吐和腹泻。
猪流感、禽流感和英国冬天常见的流感有何区别？
流感病毒常在人类和动物世界传播，导致人类、禽类和猪患病的病毒种类各不相同。季节性流感由适应在人类中传播的病毒引起。人类对这种普通病毒的传播具有天然的免疫力，并可通过接种疫苗加强免疫力。禽流感由适应在鸟类中传播的病毒引起，类似地，猪流感由适应在猪中传播的病毒引起。这些疾病在患者体内引起相同的呼吸道症状，并可以互相传播。
它的危害有多大？
尽管在美国和新西兰也有病情报告，但就墨西哥一国，便已有80多人死亡，几千人患病。不过，测试已经发现，抗病毒药神经氨酸酶抑制剂（达菲）和扎那米韦（乐瑞沙）似乎可以有效抵抗人类猪流感H1N1型病毒。
为什么我们会担心？
世界卫生组织警告说，本次疫情爆发“有在全世界大范围传播的可能性”，并建议各国加强监督和准备工作，以防止病情迅速蔓延。流感病毒有变异和突变能力，这使得制药商难以保证疫苗的有效性。新变异的H1N1病毒是不同种类动物和人类流感病毒的混合体，而人类对病毒混合变异出的种类几乎毫无免疫力。
何为大规模流行病？
如果流感在广阔的地理区域内传播，并影响到相当一部分人口，那么它就不再为地区性流行病（epidemic），而是大规模流行病（pandemic）。根据英国健康防护署的定义，大规模流感是一种能轻易在人类中传播的新型流感。当新型流感病毒进入到环境中以后，人类对它们没有任何自然抵抗力。因此，如果病毒能够轻易在人与人之间传播，那么它就有演变成大规模流感的可能性。
它会传播到英国吗？
健康防护署称，迄今报告的案例会不会引起更大规模的疫情爆发，现在还难下定论。尽管专家在密切监视疫情，但在英国尚未出现猪流感病例。最近从疫情国家回到英国的任何人，如果感觉有类似流感的症状，那么应该去看医生。
英国为了防止传染，采取了什么手段？
健康防护署表示，它在与英国政府合作，以评价现在的疫情及其对英国公众健康构成的威胁。它建议人们遵守惯常的防传染措施，保持良好的个人卫生，从而遏制一切病毒的传播。这包括在咳嗽、喷嚏时捂住口鼻，及时并小心丢弃不干净的餐巾纸，勤用肥皂和水洗手，以及经常清洗易与外界接触的皮肤表面。
猪流感是由A型流感病毒引起的猪呼吸道传染病，病毒的定期爆发会引起猪患病。猪流感的种类很多，现在的病例则与A型病毒的H1N1类有关。
人为何会患病？
虽然患病概率不高，但人类还是有可能被该类病毒感染，同猪有密切接触者尤甚。从最近一次疫情爆发中可以看到，病毒会变异，并在人与人之间传染。专家认为，猪流感和季节性流感一样，都是通过咳嗽和喷嚏传播。
有何症状？
人患猪流感的症状同正常人类患季节性流感的症状相似，包括发烧、疲劳、食欲不振、咳嗽和喉咙痛，还有报告表示猪流感患者产生呕吐和腹泻。
猪流感、禽流感和英国冬天常见的流感有何区别？
流感病毒常在人类和动物世界传播，导致人类、禽类和猪患病的病毒种类各不相同。季节性流感由适应在人类中传播的病毒引起。人类对这种普通病毒的传播具有天然的免疫力，并可通过接种疫苗加强免疫力。禽流感由适应在鸟类中传播的病毒引起，类似地，猪流感由适应在猪中传播的病毒引起。这些疾病在患者体内引起相同的呼吸道症状，并可以互相传播。
它的危害有多大？
尽管在美国和新西兰也有病情报告，但就墨西哥一国，便已有80多人死亡，几千人患病。不过，测试已经发现，抗病毒药神经氨酸酶抑制剂（达菲）和扎那米韦（乐瑞沙）似乎可以有效抵抗人类猪流感H1N1型病毒。
为什么我们会担心？
世界卫生组织警告说，本次疫情爆发“有在全世界大范围传播的可能性”，并建议各国加强监督和准备工作，以防止病情迅速蔓延。流感病毒有变异和突变能力，这使得制药商难以保证疫苗的有效性。新变异的H1N1病毒是不同种类动物和人类流感病毒的混合体，而人类对病毒混合变异出的种类几乎毫无免疫力。
何为大规模流行病？
如果流感在广阔的地理区域内传播，并影响到相当一部分人口，那么它就不再为地区性流行病（epidemic），而是大规模流行病（pandemic）。根据英国健康防护署的定义，大规模流感是一种能轻易在人类中传播的新型流感。当新型流感病毒进入到环境中以后，人类对它们没有任何自然抵抗力。因此，如果病毒能够轻易在人与人之间传播，那么它就有演变成大规模流感的可能性。
它会传播到英国吗？
健康防护署称，迄今报告的案例会不会引起更大规模的疫情爆发，现在还难下定论。尽管专家在密切监视疫情，但在英国尚未出现猪流感病例。最近从疫情国家回到英国的任何人，如果感觉有类似流感的症状，那么应该去看医生。
英国为了防止传染，采取了什么手段？
健康防护署表示，它在与英国政府合作，以评价现在的疫情及其对英国公众健康构成的威胁。它建议人们遵守惯常的防传染措施，保持良好的个人卫生，从而遏制一切病毒的传播。这包括在咳嗽、喷嚏时捂住口鼻，及时并小心丢弃不干净的餐巾纸，勤用肥皂和水洗手，以及经常清洗易与外界接触的皮肤表面。
What you need to know about swine flu
By LAURAN NEERGAARD
By LAURAN NEERGAARD
WASHINGTON (AP) — A never-before-seen strain of swine flu has turned killer in Mexico and is causing milder illness in the United States and elsewhere. While authorities say it's not time to panic, they are taking steps to stem the spread and also urging people to pay close attention to the latest health warnings and take their own precautions.
"Individuals have a key role to play," Dr. Richard Besser, acting chief of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said Monday.
Here's what you need to know:
"Individuals have a key role to play," Dr. Richard Besser, acting chief of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said Monday.
Here's what you need to know:
Q: How do I protect myself and my family?
A: For now, take commonsense precautions. Cover your coughs and sneezes, with a tissue that you throw away or by sneezing into your elbow rather than your hand. Wash hands frequently; if soap and water aren't available, hand gels can substitute. Stay home if you're sick and keep children home from school if they are.
A: For now, take commonsense precautions. Cover your coughs and sneezes, with a tissue that you throw away or by sneezing into your elbow rather than your hand. Wash hands frequently; if soap and water aren't available, hand gels can substitute. Stay home if you're sick and keep children home from school if they are.
Q: How easy is it to catch this virus?
A: Scientists don't yet know if it takes fairly close or prolonged contact with someone who's sick, or if it's more easily spread. But in general, flu viruses spread through uncovered coughs and sneezes or — and this is important — by touching your mouth or nose with unwashed hands. Flu viruses can live on surfaces for several hours, like a doorknob just touched by someone who sneezed into his hand.
A: Scientists don't yet know if it takes fairly close or prolonged contact with someone who's sick, or if it's more easily spread. But in general, flu viruses spread through uncovered coughs and sneezes or — and this is important — by touching your mouth or nose with unwashed hands. Flu viruses can live on surfaces for several hours, like a doorknob just touched by someone who sneezed into his hand.
Q: In Mexico, officials are handing out face masks. Do I need one?
A: The CDC says there's not good evidence that masks really help outside of health care settings. It's safer just to avoid close contact with someone who's sick and avoid crowded gatherings in places where swine flu is known to be spreading. But if you can't do that, CDC guidelines say it's OK to consider a mask — just don't let it substitute for good precautions.
A: The CDC says there's not good evidence that masks really help outside of health care settings. It's safer just to avoid close contact with someone who's sick and avoid crowded gatherings in places where swine flu is known to be spreading. But if you can't do that, CDC guidelines say it's OK to consider a mask — just don't let it substitute for good precautions.
Q: Is swine flu treatable?
A: Yes, with the flu drugs Tamiflu or Relenza, but not with two older flu medications.
A: Yes, with the flu drugs Tamiflu or Relenza, but not with two older flu medications.
Q: Is there enough?
A: Yes. The federal government has stockpiled enough of the drugs to treat 50 million people, and many states have additional stocks. As a precaution, the CDC has shipped a quarter of that supply to the states to keep on hand just in case the virus starts spreading more than it has so far.
A: Yes. The federal government has stockpiled enough of the drugs to treat 50 million people, and many states have additional stocks. As a precaution, the CDC has shipped a quarter of that supply to the states to keep on hand just in case the virus starts spreading more than it has so far.
Q: Should I take Tamiflu as a precaution if I'm not sick yet?
A: No. "What are you going to do with it, use it when you get a sniffle?" asks Dr. Marc Siegel of New York University Langone Medical Center and author of "Bird Flu: Everything you Need To Know About The Next Pandemic." Overusing antiviral drugs can help germs become resistant to them.
A: No. "What are you going to do with it, use it when you get a sniffle?" asks Dr. Marc Siegel of New York University Langone Medical Center and author of "Bird Flu: Everything you Need To Know About The Next Pandemic." Overusing antiviral drugs can help germs become resistant to them.
Q: How big is my risk?
A: For most people, very low. Outside of Mexico, so far clusters of illnesses seem related to Mexican travel. New York City's cluster, for instance, consists of students and family members at one school where some students came back ill from spring break in Mexico.
A: For most people, very low. Outside of Mexico, so far clusters of illnesses seem related to Mexican travel. New York City's cluster, for instance, consists of students and family members at one school where some students came back ill from spring break in Mexico.
Q: Why are people dying in Mexico and not here?
A: That's a mystery. First, understand that no one really knows just how many people in Mexico are dying of this flu strain, or how many have it. Only a fraction of the suspected deaths have been tested and confirmed as swine flu, and some initially suspected cases were caused by something else.
A: That's a mystery. First, understand that no one really knows just how many people in Mexico are dying of this flu strain, or how many have it. Only a fraction of the suspected deaths have been tested and confirmed as swine flu, and some initially suspected cases were caused by something else.
Q: Should I cancel my planned trip to Mexico?
A: The U.S. did issue a travel advisory Monday discouraging nonessential travel there.
A: The U.S. did issue a travel advisory Monday discouraging nonessential travel there.
Q: What else is the U.S., or anyone else, doing to try to stop this virus?
A: The U.S. is beginning limited screening of travelers from Mexico, so that the obviously sick can be sent for treatment. Other governments have issued their own travel warnings and restrictions. Mexico is taking the biggest steps, closings that limit most crowded gatherings. In the U.S., communities with clusters of illness also may limit contact — New York closed the affected school for a few days, for example — so stay tuned to hear if your area eventually is affected.
A: The U.S. is beginning limited screening of travelers from Mexico, so that the obviously sick can be sent for treatment. Other governments have issued their own travel warnings and restrictions. Mexico is taking the biggest steps, closings that limit most crowded gatherings. In the U.S., communities with clusters of illness also may limit contact — New York closed the affected school for a few days, for example — so stay tuned to hear if your area eventually is affected.
Q: What are the symptoms?
A: They're similar to regular human flu — a fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people also have diarrhea and vomiting.
A: They're similar to regular human flu — a fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people also have diarrhea and vomiting.
Q: How do I know if I should see a doctor? Maybe my symptoms are from something else — like pollen?
A: Health authorities say if you live in places where swine flu cases have been confirmed, or you recently traveled to Mexico, and you have flulike symptoms, ask your doctor if you need treatment or to be tested. Allergies won't cause a fever. And run-of-the-mill stomach bugs won't be accompanied by respiratory symptoms, notes Dr. Wayne Reynolds of Newport News, Va., spokesman for the American Academy of Family Physicians.
A: Health authorities say if you live in places where swine flu cases have been confirmed, or you recently traveled to Mexico, and you have flulike symptoms, ask your doctor if you need treatment or to be tested. Allergies won't cause a fever. And run-of-the-mill stomach bugs won't be accompanied by respiratory symptoms, notes Dr. Wayne Reynolds of Newport News, Va., spokesman for the American Academy of Family Physicians.
Q: Is there a vaccine to prevent this new infection?
A: No. And CDC's initial testing suggests that last winter's flu shot didn't offer any cross-protection.
A: No. And CDC's initial testing suggests that last winter's flu shot didn't offer any cross-protection.
Q: How long would it take to produce a vaccine?
A: A few months. The CDC has created what's called "seed stock" of the new virus that manufacturers would need to start production. But the government hasn't yet decided if the outbreak is bad enough to order that.
A: A few months. The CDC has created what's called "seed stock" of the new virus that manufacturers would need to start production. But the government hasn't yet decided if the outbreak is bad enough to order that.
Q: What is swine flu?
A: Pigs spread their own strains of influenza and every so often people catch one, usually after contact with the animals. This new strain is a mix of pig viruses with some human and bird viruses. Unlike more typical swine flu, it is spreading person-to-person. A 1976 outbreak of another unusual swine flu at Fort Dix, N.J., prompted a problematic mass vaccination campaign, but that time the flu fizzled out.
A: Pigs spread their own strains of influenza and every so often people catch one, usually after contact with the animals. This new strain is a mix of pig viruses with some human and bird viruses. Unlike more typical swine flu, it is spreading person-to-person. A 1976 outbreak of another unusual swine flu at Fort Dix, N.J., prompted a problematic mass vaccination campaign, but that time the flu fizzled out.
Q: So is it safe to eat pork?
A: Yes. Swine influenza viruses don't spread through food.
A: Yes. Swine influenza viruses don't spread through food.
Q: And whatever happened to bird flu? Wasn't that supposed to be the next pandemic?
A: Specialists have long warned that the issue is a never-before-seen strain that people have little if any natural immunity to, regardless of whether it seems to originate from a bird or a pig. Bird flu hasn't gone away; scientists are tracking it, too.
A: Specialists have long warned that the issue is a never-before-seen strain that people have little if any natural immunity to, regardless of whether it seems to originate from a bird or a pig. Bird flu hasn't gone away; scientists are tracking it, too.
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