How does swine flu pass from pigs to humans?

How does swine flu pass from pigs to humans?

By ERICA ESTEP
6 News Anchor/Reporter

KNOXVILLE (WATE) -- Fears over the worldwide spread of swine flu have people asking,"How does it spread from pigs to humans?"

6 News took that question to researchers at the University of Tennessee's College of Veterinary Medicine.

"Pigs are kind of a unique species. We call them the mixing pot of influenza because they actually are susceptible to influenza from other animals as well as influenza viruses from birds," Dr. Melissa Kennedy explains.  

Dr. Kennedy says while we're calling it the swine flu, so far no tests have confirmed any group of pigs currently has the flu that's sweeping around the globe.

"It was different in some of its genes and it looked more like a swine influenza on some of its genes, more so than the human influenza."

Kennedy adds that the current strain of influenza was found because of routine surveillance and that while it's very unusual for the flu to cross over species, it has happened.

"Swine experience influenza with the same symptoms we do. They'll have coughing and respiratory shedding of the virus so it can get inhaled by other animals including people. And it can go the other way. Human influenzas can infect swine as well."

Kennedy points out that since it's spreading from person to person slaughtering pigs, as some countries are already doing, won't help.

"To cull pigs just because they're pigs just doesn't make a lot of sense at all."

Dr. Kennedy says many people have been calling UT to find out if their pets can contract swine flu and it's "highly unlikely."