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Frequently Asked Questions - H1N1 Flu Virus

About H1N1 Flu Virus

Q1. What is the H1N1 Flu Virus?

Q2. Is H1N1 Flu Virus contagious? How does it spread between people?

Q3. Is the H1N1 Flu Virus expected to circulate for more than one season?

Q4. Do we expect the H1N1 Flu Virus to mutate in seasons to come?

Q1. What is the H1N1 Flu Virus?

H1N1 Flu Virus has been reported around the world, and the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared it a pandemic influenza virus. H1N1 is a strain of the influenza virus that in the past, usually only affected pigs. In spring 2009, it emerged in people in North America. This is a new strain of influenza and because humans have little to no natural immunity to this virus, it can cause serious and widespread illness.

Q2. Is H1N1 Flu Virus contagious? How does it spread between people?

The H1N1 Flu Virus is contagious and is spread the same way as regular seasonal influenza. This happens when an infected person coughs or sneezes and their germs enter the nose, eyes, or throat of another person. The germs can also rest on hard surfaces like counters and doorknobs, and can be picked up on hands and transmitted to the respiratory system when someone touches their mouth and/or nose. It is not possible to catch it by eating pork or pork products or through blood transfusions.

Q3. Is the H1N1 Flu Virus expected to circulate for more than one season?

Historically, pandemic flu viruses have circulated for more than one season. In the Southern Hemisphere, H1N1 Flu Virus is still circulating now, even outside their regular flu season. Likewise, we would expect to see H1N1 flu virus activity continue in some form here in Canada next flu season.

Q4. Do we expect the H1N1 Flu Virus to mutate in seasons to come?

Influenza viruses, including the pandemic H1N1 virus, are suspected to continually change, or mutate, over time.

A major mutation is different in that it signals a new virus to which the population will have no immunity, which was the case with H1N1 Flu Virus. To ensure that we know if and when major mutations happen, Canada’s National Microbiology Laboratory, and labs around the world, are monitoring the virus for changes regularly.

Get all the facts on the H1N1 Flu Virus