Swine flu symptoms: Here’s what you need to know

Fears of a full-scale swine flu outbreak in South Africa are unfounded as only isolated cases of H1N1 virus infection have been reported in humans in the country in 2019.

Reported cases in South Africa

A particularly virulent strain of the flu is doing the rounds in South Africa at the moment, which has sparked fears of a return of the swine flu that killed several people in 2009.

The situation has not been helped by recurring reports in the pork industry of outbreaks of African Swine Flu in pigs. This reportedly led to China culling as many as a million pigs

Earlier this year, isolated reports of swine flu diagnosis began to surface. In May, a child at Kontiki Pre-Primary School in Bloemfontein was diagnosed with H1N1 virus strain,

Tragic death in Krugersdorp

Fear reached fever pitch in Gauteng this week when a young boy from Krugersdorp passed away in hospital, sparking widespread rumours it was caused by swine flu.

This has been debunked by the hospital that treated him, who revealed he succumbed to pneumonia, which presents in a similar way to swine flu symptoms. The boy’s mother also contact his school to inform them that he was not sick with swine flu.

Swine flu symptoms

The swine flu symptoms present the same as the regular flu, which is why particularly strong strains of flu tend to cause a bit of panic.

According to WebMD, they include:

• Cough
• Fever
• Sore throat
• Stuffy or runny nose
• Body aches
• Headache
• Chills
• Fatigue

If you are generally healthy and start presenting flu symptoms it is not necessary to go consult a doctor.

However, if you are pregnant, have a chronic disease such as asthma, or if things escalate to include breathing problems, severe vomiting, dizziness, diarrhea or acute pain in your side then you should contact a physician immediately.

Both strains of the swine flu virus (H1N1v and H3N2v) were included in the 2018/19 flu vaccine. So if you got your shot, you are more than likely safe.