swine flu

noun

: swine influenza
also : influenza A of humans that is caused by a different strain of an orthomyxovirus subtype (H1N1) from those found in swine and that is marked especially by fever, sore throat, cough, chills, body aches, fatigue, and sometimes diarrhea and vomiting

Examples of swine flu in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Humans are occasionally infected with the swine flu by pigs, usually after exposure to pigs or contaminated environments. Erin Prater, Fortune Well, 27 Nov. 2023 The first death associated with MMS, combined with the swine flu epidemic in 2010, first spurred regulators to eye MMS. Kristen V Brown, Bloomberg.com, 8 Feb. 2023 During his tenure in public service, Fauci helped guide public policy on HIV/AIDS, SARS, MERS, avian influenza, swine flu, Zika and Ebola. Andrea Wurzburger, Peoplemag, 4 Dec. 2023 The first human case of the swine flu strain H1N2 has been detected in the United Kingdom, health officials there announced Monday. Greg Norman, Fox News, 27 Nov. 2023 This is the highest number of tests recorded this early in a season since 2009-2010, when the country was seeing a swine flu outbreak. Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 3 Nov. 2022 In 2009, for example, the virus to fear was swine flu, which had jumped from pigs to people in spring of that year. Amber Dance, USA TODAY, 21 Jan. 2023 What are the symptoms of swine flu? Symptoms of swine flu usually appear within three days of exposure but can begin as late as 10 days after exposure and are similar to those of human strains of seasonal flu viruses. Kristen Jordan Shamus, Detroit Free Press, 5 Aug. 2023 Antiviral drugs used to help people recover from human strains of the virus are also effective against swine flu. Kristen Jordan Shamus, Detroit Free Press, 5 Aug. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'swine flu.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1919, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of swine flu was in 1919

Dictionary Entries Near swine flu

Cite this Entry

“Swine flu.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/swine%20flu. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

swine flu

noun
: swine influenza
also : influenza of humans that is caused by a subtype (H1N1) of an orthomyxovirus (species Influenza A virus of the genus Influenzavirus A) originating in swine and is marked especially by fever, sore throat, cough, chills, body aches, fatigue, and sometimes diarrhea and vomiting
Among the swine flu cases in the United States, none had had any contact with pigs … Marc Lacey and Donald G. McNeil Jr., The New York Times
As swine flu spreads from person to person around the world, it is most often being transmitted by coughing or sneezing … Laura Landro, The Wall Street Journal

More from Merriam-Webster on swine flu

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