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When Did the Swine Flu Appear?

The swine flu, or, the 2009 H1N1 virus, emerged in Mexico in spring 2009. The virus is a new kind of influenza--what health officials call a novel virus--that combines the genes of swine, human and bird flu.

  1. U.S. Emergence

    • The 2009 H1N1 flu appeared in the United States in March and April 2009, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports.

    Pandemic

    • In June 2009, the H1N1 swine flu had spread through enough of the world that the World Health Organization labeled it a pandemic.

    Swine Infection

    • In June 2009, the CDC reported H1N1-infected pigs in Canada. In August and September, cases appeared in the United States. In November, swine infections were found in Taiwan.

    Feline Infection

    • A pet cat in Iowa became sick from the H1N1 virus in October 2009, a USDA report of animal infections reveals. It was the first feline case, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.

    Ferret Infection

    • Cases of H1N1 swine flu in pet ferrets occurred in October 2009, appearing in the United States. One of the ferrets died.

    Appearance in Animals

    • Animals are catching the flu from humans. Of particular concern are cases of H1N1 in swine herds, for pigs can simultaneously catch pig, human and avian flu, becoming the unwitting breeders of new, combined viruses.

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