Swine influenza is an infection caused by an influenza virus found in pigs; hence the name Swine Flu. It is also known as the Hog flu, pig flu and pig influenza. This influenza is found commonly in pigs and is rarely fatal. Even more rarely does it get passed onto the human population. When it does, it is known as Zoonotic swine flu. Swine flu was first established as a disease in 1918 when a mass outbreak happened worldwide in which an estimated 50-100 million people were killed.

After almost 90 years, the world saw another outbreak of the swine flu. It was first detected in April 2009 in Veracruz State of Mexico. Though the action was a bit delayed, the Mexican government shut the private and public facilities in order to contain the further spread of the virus. However, the disease soon spread across North America, South American continent, Europe and Asia. By 24 October, 2009, USA declared the swine flu pandemic as a national emergency. The World Health Organization soon followed the way and declared a global emergency. An estimated 14,286 deaths was caused across the world in the pandemic.

The signs and symptoms of the H1N1 flu are similar to other influenza infections. The patients suffer of common cold, cough, and mild fever, sore throat and body ache. However, many patients also complain of severe diarrhea and vomiting. Among children, other noticeable symptoms were fever with skin rashes, difficulty in breathing, bluish skin tone and fast or heavy breathing. In 2009 the major cause of death among the swine flu patients was upper respiratory failure.

Effective medication and vaccines were developed which were distributed across the world to the affected nations. The distribution of preventive vaccination was done on a priority basis to pregnant women, children and ailing people as they were at higher risk. Travel advisories and restrictions were put to people traveling to or from affected countries with the aim of restricting further spread of the disease. Apart from this a mass awareness drive was launched across the world to educate people on ways to prevent the virus from spreading. Measures like avoiding over crowded and public places and getting disinfected if exposed to contaminated people and surfaces were simple to follow yet effective. By the end of 2009, most countries declared to have contained any further spread of swine flu in pandemic proportions.