What is H1N1 Influenza 09 (Human Swine Influenza)?
H1N1 Influenza 09 is a new type of influenza A virus (H1N1). This new virus has been found in people in many countries including Australia. This virus was originally called “swine flu” because it is similar to the swine influenza virus that usually occurs in pigs. People do not normally get swine influenza. In the past, swine influenza only infected people who were in close contact with pigs, such as farmers, and did not spread from person to person. H1N1 Influenza 09 is a new type of swine influenza virus and can now spread from person to person. Urgent work is being done worldwide to find out as much as we can about H1N1 Influenza 09.
