What is swine flu?
Swine influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza virus that regularly causes outbreaks of influenza in pigs. Swine flu viruses
cause high levels of illness but have low death rates in pigs. Swine influenza viruses may circulate among swine throughout the year, but most outbreaks occur
during the latefall and winter months similar to outbreaks in humans. The classical swine flu virus (an influenza type A H1N1 virus) was first isolated from a pig in
1930.
Is there more than one swine flu virus?
Like all influenza viruses, swine flu viruses change constantly. Pigs can be infected by avian influenza and human influenza viruses as well as swine influenza
viruses. When influenza viruses from different species infect pigs, the viruses can reassort (i.e. swap genes), and new viruses that are a mix of swine, human
and/or avian influenza viruses, can emerge. Over the years, different variations of swine flu viruses have emerged. At this time, there are four main influenza
type A virus subtypes that have been isolated in pigs: H1N1, H1N2, H3N2, and H3N1. However, most of the recently isolated influenza viruses from pigs have
been H1N1 viruses.
How is swine flu spread?
According to the CDC, human transmission of flu occurs through coughing or sneezing of people infected with the influenza virus. People may become infected
by touching something with viruses on it and then touching their mouths or noses. Guidance published by the CDC on April 24, 2009 for infection control in
healthcare settings advises: "disinfection strategies used during influenza seasons can be applied to the environmental management of swine influenza."
Additional guidance published on April 25, 2009 for infection control in the home recommends keeping "surfaces (especially bedside tables, surfaces in the
bathroom, and toys for children) clean by wiping them down with a household disinfectant according to directions on the product label."
Does Clean Control offer any products that are effective against swine flu?
Clean Control does not have a swine influenza claim on any of our registered disinfectants/sanitizers. The "swine flu" is a genetic reassortment of the H1N1 virus
that contains elements of swine, avian, and human influenza. The good news is that influenza is an enveloped virus which actually makes it highly susceptible to
quaternary disinfectants. "Swine influenza is known to be caused by an Influenza A virus, a genus of the Orthomyxoviridae family of viruses known to be
susceptible to disinfectants. While members of virus families, or subtypes (for example H1N1), may express different infectious characteristics, the virus family
members all share the same taxonomy, (physicochemical characteristics) that lead to susceptibility and inactivation by disinfectants. The USEPA considers all
strains of Influenza A virus to have the same susceptibility to inactivation by disinfectants, or if a product can kill one strain, it can kill all. While a given EPA
Registered disinfectant label may not list Swine Flu (infectious agent) specifically, if it lists Influenza A virus, it will effectively inactivate all Influenza A viruses
regardless of the specific subtype."
Swine influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza virus that regularly causes outbreaks of influenza in pigs. Swine flu viruses
cause high levels of illness but have low death rates in pigs. Swine influenza viruses may circulate among swine throughout the year, but most outbreaks occur
during the latefall and winter months similar to outbreaks in humans. The classical swine flu virus (an influenza type A H1N1 virus) was first isolated from a pig in
1930.
Is there more than one swine flu virus?
Like all influenza viruses, swine flu viruses change constantly. Pigs can be infected by avian influenza and human influenza viruses as well as swine influenza
viruses. When influenza viruses from different species infect pigs, the viruses can reassort (i.e. swap genes), and new viruses that are a mix of swine, human
and/or avian influenza viruses, can emerge. Over the years, different variations of swine flu viruses have emerged. At this time, there are four main influenza
type A virus subtypes that have been isolated in pigs: H1N1, H1N2, H3N2, and H3N1. However, most of the recently isolated influenza viruses from pigs have
been H1N1 viruses.
How is swine flu spread?
According to the CDC, human transmission of flu occurs through coughing or sneezing of people infected with the influenza virus. People may become infected
by touching something with viruses on it and then touching their mouths or noses. Guidance published by the CDC on April 24, 2009 for infection control in
healthcare settings advises: "disinfection strategies used during influenza seasons can be applied to the environmental management of swine influenza."
Additional guidance published on April 25, 2009 for infection control in the home recommends keeping "surfaces (especially bedside tables, surfaces in the
bathroom, and toys for children) clean by wiping them down with a household disinfectant according to directions on the product label."
Does Clean Control offer any products that are effective against swine flu?
Clean Control does not have a swine influenza claim on any of our registered disinfectants/sanitizers. The "swine flu" is a genetic reassortment of the H1N1 virus
that contains elements of swine, avian, and human influenza. The good news is that influenza is an enveloped virus which actually makes it highly susceptible to
quaternary disinfectants. "Swine influenza is known to be caused by an Influenza A virus, a genus of the Orthomyxoviridae family of viruses known to be
susceptible to disinfectants. While members of virus families, or subtypes (for example H1N1), may express different infectious characteristics, the virus family
members all share the same taxonomy, (physicochemical characteristics) that lead to susceptibility and inactivation by disinfectants. The USEPA considers all
strains of Influenza A virus to have the same susceptibility to inactivation by disinfectants, or if a product can kill one strain, it can kill all. While a given EPA
Registered disinfectant label may not list Swine Flu (infectious agent) specifically, if it lists Influenza A virus, it will effectively inactivate all Influenza A viruses
regardless of the specific subtype."