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Swine flu outbreak tapering off, according to CDC - Influenza A (H1N1) activity has decreased in U.S
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Positive test results continue to drop as second wave of swine flu tapers off
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's flu activity report has now been released. The CDC reports that Influenza A (H1N1) activity has decreased once more, during the week ending November 21. Continued decreases in infections due to the swine flu outbreak suggest that this wave is coming to an end.
Mutations in the H1N1 virus may be contributing to the slower spread, or reduced number of positive test results, attributed to the H1N1 virus.
Mutation in the Swine Flu Outbreak
Of the mutations that have taken place during the swine flu outbreak, the one most likely to affect both the reported cases, and contagion of the H1N1 virus is the change in receptor binding domain (RBD). A change in the RBD to D225G causes the swine flu virus to attach to cells deep in the lungs, rather than in the upper respiratory tract.
Swine Flu Testing
Typical flu tests are relatively non-invasive, and involve a quick swab in the upper respiratory tract, to check for the presence of the flu virus. For a virus that does not live in the upper respiratory tract, however, a nose swab will not find the virus. This may result in false-negative test results.
H1N1 Virus Transmission
The H1N1 virus is transmitted from person to person via tiny droplets that exit the body during breathing, coughing, or sneezing, or by any exchange of bodily fluids that may carry mucous. The mutated swine flu virus, however, attaches to cells deep in the lungs, and may not be as easily dislodged for transmission.
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