Consider the following statements regarding the recent global outbreak of‘Swine flu. I. The agent of infection is not well identified II. The risk is higher in those who consume pork III. It has a propensity to spread from contact with an infected person IV. Absence of an effective treatment or vaccine makes it risk for a global pandemic Which of the statements given above it/are correct?

Statement I is incorrect because the agent of infection, the H1N1 influenza A virus, is well-identified as a reassortment of swine, avian, and human influenza strains [t1][t2]. Statement II is incorrect as there is no risk from consuming properly handled and prepared pork; the virus is respiratory, not foodborne [t1][t5]. Statement III is correct; the virus spreads through respiratory droplets and contact with infected persons or contaminated surfaces [t1][t3]. Statement IV is incorrect because effective antiviral treatments like oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir exist and were used during the pandemic [t1][t2][t3]. Furthermore, specific vaccines were developed and deployed following the 2009 outbreak [t2][t6]. Therefore, only statement III accurately describes the transmission characteristics of the swine flu outbreak.

Sources

1. [1] https://www.cdc.gov/swine-flu/variant-flu-in-humans/index.html
2. [2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513241/
3. [3] https://archive.cdc.gov/www_cdc_gov/h1n1flu/cdcresponse.htm