Flu Mutations
The term "swine flu" is somewhat misleading, because the current H1N1 influenza spreading throughout the population is not actually spread by swine. H1N1 influenza became termed as swine flu because some of the genes that it contains are similar to those found in strains of influenza that infect swine. This means that the H1N1 virus most likely evolved from strains of the flu that infect pigs. Flu viruses are able to evolve because their genes are always changing. Sometimes these changes make the virus inactive, but other times they give it new characteristics. Flu.gov explains that H1N1 virus probably evolved from a gene reassortment that gave it the ability to infect humans.
Spread
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that the H1N1 flu most likely spreads in a manner very similar to seasonal influenza strains. This means that it is spread from person-to-person when an infected person coughs or sneezes near an uninfected population. When this happens, droplets of liquid with the virus get dispersed into the air, where they can infect people via their nose and mouth. Sometimes the virus can also be spread if someone touches an object (such as a railing or a doorknob) that has been contaminated with the flu virus, then touches his mouth with the contaminated hand.
High Risk Areas
Because the swine flu can spread via person-to-person contact, it can spread throughout a population in crowded areas. This is because there is a greater chance that an infected person will cough or sneeze near other people, leading to the spread of the flu. Hospitals are particularly high-risk areas because they have a high concentration of sick people. If you have to go to crowded areas, avoid touching surfaces unnecessarily and carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer. This will help you avoid contaminating your hands with the virus, which can cause you to become infected and further spread the virus.
