Swine influenza is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses and has a major economic impact on the swine industry in the United States. Flu outbreaks in pigs are common, especially during winter months. Swine flu can result in high rates of illness in herds.

1. High fevers in infected pigs are common, and can result in reduced fertility or elevated abortion rates among sows.
2. Studies have shown that 30% to 50% of commercial U.S. swine have been infected with swine flu.
3. Pigs most commonly get infected with flu viruses from other pigs (swine flu), but also can get infected with flu viruses from birds (avian flu), and from people (human flu). This cross-species spread of flu viruses can lead to new types of flu viruses.
4. The number of subtypes and strains of flu virus circulating among U.S. herds has complicated swine flu vaccine programs and resulted in increased economic loss from illness in pigs.

Signs of swine flu in pigs may include coughing (“barking”), discharge from the nose, sneezing, breathing difficulties and going off feed.

Flu Can Spread from Pigs to People and from People to Pigs!

1. Swine flu viruses can infect humans, but this is not common.
2. Human and swine flu viruses are different. People who get vaccinated for human flu can still get sick from swine flu. Pigs that have been vaccinated for swine flu can still get sick from human flu.
3. Symptoms of swine flu in people are no different from symptoms that people get when they are infected with human flu viruses.
4. People infected with flu typically have fever (often high), cough, body aches, headaches, fatigue and runny or stuffy nose. Vomiting and diarrhea may also occur.
5. Recent studies have shown that 15% to 25% of swine farmers might have been infected with swine flu viruses, as well as about 10% of veterinarians.
6. Cases of swine flu have most commonly occurred in people with direct exposure to pigs, but some cases of human-to-human transmission have been reported.

What You Can Do?

First, wash your hands frequently after exposure to animals and avoid contact with ill appearing animals. If you or your family becomes ill with flu-like symptoms, let your doctor know if you have been around pigs that could have the flu. A nose or throat swab is needed to determine if you might be infected with a swine flu virus.

Most cases of influenza in humans are caused by human flu viruses. However, in the unusual event that you are infected with a swine flu virus, the health department will want to talk with you about your illness and make sure that other people you live and work with are not sick with swine flu. Influenza medications are available to treat swine flu illness in people. These medicines should be started in the first 2 days of being ill to be most effective.

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India has expressed interest in selling small nuclear reactors to Malaysia and other developing countries, if the governments are keen to use it to generate power.

At present, India is the only country in the world that produces the 220-megawatt (MWe) pressurised-heavy-water reactor after Canada, a key producer abandoned the project as production was no longer economical.

“We are willing to sell to friendly nations like Malaysia, if there is a genuine interest, as nuclear power production is a long term commitment,” Sudhinder Thakur, executive director (corporate planning) of the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL), said.

After India conducted a nuclear test in 1974, the Nuclear Suppliers Group barred it from trading in nuclear technology. But when India signed a controversial nuclear deal with the United States last October, the sanction was lifted.

“From a technical point of view, we can sell these reactors,” said Thakur, adding that India was ready to promote the indigenous reactor to countries, which had adequate regulatory laws and expertise to operate it.

“The ultimate objective is to produce electricity as cheaply, using coal.It is commercially viable with these reactors. It is also 30 to 40 percent cheaper compared to coal,” he said.

At present 17 reactors, ranging from 160 MWe to 540 MWe, are in operation across India, generating 4,120 MWe.

Three other plants under construction are expected to be commissioned by this year and India aims to produce 25 percent of its electricity from nuclear power by 2050.

The government-owned NPCIL is the sole body responsible for constructing and operating India’s commercial nuclear power plants.

India, the third largest economy in Asia, launched its nuclear programme as part of an energy self-sufficiency strategy and to meet the growing demand from its robust industrial sector.

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Passengers from an international flight have their temperature checked as they pass a thermal scanner monitor upon arrival at the Sukarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta today as the region steps up its checks on travellers due to the outbreak of swine flu in Mexico. Indonesia suspended pork imports and increased body-temperature scanners at airports as senior officials tried to calm fears that swine flu had spread to the country.

The swine flu outbreak started in Mexico and has spread to the United States and elsewhere. The European Union advised against nonessential travel to the United States and Mexico.

China, Taiwan and Russia, meanwhile, considered quarantines, and several Asian countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore scrutinized visitors arriving at airports.

A widespread outbreak could batter the tourism, food and transportation industries in particular, deepening the recession in the U.S. and possibly worldwide.

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Abraham, known as Ibrahim in Arabic, is very important in Islam, both in his own right as a prophet as well as being the father of Ishmael and Isaac. Ishmael, his firstborn son, is considered the Father of the Arabised Arabs, and Isaac is considered the Father of the Hebrews. Islam teaches that Ishmael was the son Abraham nearly sacrificed on Moriah. To support this view Muslims use various proofs, including the belief that at the time Ishmael was his only son. Abraham is revered by Muslims as one of the Prophets in Islam, and is commonly termed Khalil Ullah, “Friend of God”. Abraham is considered a Hanif, that is, a discoverer of monotheism.

Abraham is mentioned in many passages in 25 Qur’anic suras (chapters). The number of repetitions of his name in the Qur’an is second only to Moses.

Abraham’s footprint is displayed outside the Kaaba, which is on a stone, protected and guarded by Mutawa (Religious Police). The annual Hajj, the fifth pillar of Islam, follows Abraham, Hagar, and Ishmael’s journey to the sacred place of the Kaaba. Islamic tradition narrates that Abraham’s subsequent visits to the Northern Arabian region, after leaving Ishmael and Hagar (in the area that would later become the Islamic holy city of Mecca), were not only to visit Ishmael but also to construct the first house of worship for God (that is, the monotheistic concept and model of God), the Kaaba - as per God’s command.

The Eid al-Adha ceremony is focused on Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his promised son on God’s command. In turn, God spared his son’s life and instead substituted a sheep. This was Abraham’s test of faith. On Eid al-Adha, Muslims sacrifice a domestic animal - a sheep, goat, cow, buffalo or camel - as a symbol of Abraham’s sacrifice, and divide the meat among the family members, friends, relatives, and most importantly, the poor. (source)

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