As if we needed another reason to put down the pork sometimes, the Swine Flu has hit the United Staes. Over 1,000 cases of swine flu have been detected in Mexico, and has caused all schools in Mexico City today to shut down to prevent the spread of the disease. Now, cases of the flu have hit San Diego, and eight human cases in Texas and California. Even though the eight people have recovered from the illness, this epidemic is something that we must watch out for.

UPDATE : Since Friday, there has been 40 reported cases in the United States and 73 cases world-wide. President Obama said Monday that the swine flu outbreak is a “cause for concern and requires a heightened state of alert,” but is not a “cause for alarm.”

The swine flu is a respiratory disease spread throughout pigs causing influenza. Although outbreaks occur yearly, this new H1N1 virus is a mix between human and animal variations of the flu. The spread of this version of the swine flu from human to human is harder to fight and treat because human carry no natural immunity to the sickness. Swine Flu and regular influenza share a lot of the same symptoms such as loss of energy, vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, sore throat, coughing and runny nose.

Mexico City is still on current lockdown today to prevent the disease from spreading.

- Kazeem Famuyide