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What is the difference between the swine flu and the bird flu?

Other than the swine flu started in Mexico and the bird flu starting in Asia?
  • 7 months ago
tridoc by tridoc
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Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

long story short ... different strains of Influenza A infect different species. Normally, those strains will not cross species. In other words, pigs can't be infected by the bird flu and the swine flu can't infect birds. But sometimes, an animal will be infected with two different types of influenza A at the same time and the two viruses swap genetic information. When this happens, there is a possiblility to jump species. This is likely what is happening in Mexico ... and now the US. Humans have never been exposed to this type of "new" influenza and our immune systems don't react very well. This happens every few decades and lots of people die. Sad but true.

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i am a pharmacist and medical student.
  • 7 months ago
Asker's Rating:
3 out of 5
Asker's Comment:
Thanks! Scary...
Idk about this but apperently its a mixture of
pig flu, Bird flu and human flu?

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Surely, Swine flu is more dangerous, but if you use right medical treatment everything will be okay: http://tamiflushop.us/product/tamiflu.html

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