World on flu alert as Swine Virus spreads.. read more

  The U.S. declared a public health emergency Sunday to deal with the emerging new swine flu, much like the government does to prepare for approaching hurricanes.

Federal officials have taken steps to release 25 percent of the 50 million anti-flu drugs it has stockpiled to areas - including New York - where there have been confirmed cases of swine flu.

The best way to avoid getting the swine flu, Wash your hands, cough into your arm, stay at home if you are sick. Don't kiss someone who has been exposed to the virus. Also sensible: cleaning doorknobs or other areas people are likely to touch.

All the hullabaloo about swine flu has been making some consumers wary of eating pork. But there is no connection between the disease and the meat, so go right ahead and order those baby back ribs.

Swine flu is a respiratory illness that affects pigs. People don't normally catch it, but it has been transmitted from pigs to humans. In the latest outbreak, it is spreading from human to human.

Anti-viral medications, such as Tamiflu or Relenza, are effective against swine flu. There currently is no human vaccine against Swine Flu.