swine influenza

noun

: influenza A of swine that is caused by any of several subtypes (such as H1N1 or H3N2) of the causative orthomyxovirus and in which sporadic transmission to humans has occurred compare swine flu

Examples of swine influenza in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Pigs can be infected with strains of swine influenza viruses that are different from human flu viruses and can rarely spread them to people. —Kristen Jordan Shamus, Detroit Free Press, 26 July 2023

That’s because avian and swine influenzas have caused pandemics in humans, including the 1918 flu pandemic, which was caused by a virus that originated in birds, and the 2009 swine flu pandemic. —Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 24 Apr. 2023

The lines show the path of swine influenza H1N2 along common hog routes over time. —Katherine Harmon, Scientific American, 21 Sep. 2011

From these samples, researchers identified 179 swine influenza viruses -- but not all of them posed a concern. —Jessie Yeung, CNN, 30 June 2020

In 2015, Gray and his colleagues launched a five-year study to examine the transmission of swine influenza in large pig farms in China. —Cassandra Willyard, Scientific American, 18 Sep. 2019

The swine influenza of 2009 turned out not to be the grave danger that health authorities feared. —Maryn McKenna, Smithsonian, 25 Oct. 2017

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Word History

First Known Use

1919, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

swine influenza

noun

: influenza of swine that is marked by fever, lethargy, labored breathing, coughing, and anorexia and that is typically not fatal but may be complicated by development of bronchopneumonia or secondary bacterial infection

Note: Swine influenza is caused by any of several subtypes (such as H1N1 or H3N2) of an orthomyxovirus (species Influenza A virus of the genus Influenzavirus A). Strains of the virus subtypes have been transmitted to humans, sometimes causing outbreaks.

see swine flu