swine flu

noun

: swine influenza
also : influenza A of humans that is caused by a different strain of an orthomyxovirus subtype (H1N1) from those found in swine and that is marked especially by fever, sore throat, cough, chills, body aches, fatigue, and sometimes diarrhea and vomiting

Examples of swine flu in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Any widespread flu outbreaks, like the 2009 swine flu, are caused by Flu A infecting animals and spreading the illness. Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 18 Feb. 2025 Kawaoka and his colleagues combined the H5 hemagglutinin gene from the bird flu virus with genes from the 2009 H1N1 swine flu virus. Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 24 Dec. 2024 The uptick in bird flu cases comes amid an ongoing surge of seasonal influenza that is at record highs nationwide in emergency rooms and hospitals, above peaks seen during the 2009 swine flu pandemic. Alexander Tin, CBS News, 14 Feb. 2025 Doctors' visits for flu highest in 15 years, most since swine flu pandemic: CDC During the same week, 7.9% of emergency department visits were due to flu compared with 3.2% the same time last year, according to the CDC data. Youri Benadjaoud, ABC News, 14 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for swine flu

Word History

First Known Use

1919, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of swine flu was in 1919

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Cite this Entry

“Swine flu.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/swine%20flu. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.

Medical Definition

swine flu

noun
: swine influenza
also : influenza of humans that is caused by a subtype (H1N1) of an orthomyxovirus (species Influenza A virus of the genus Influenzavirus A) originating in swine and is marked especially by fever, sore throat, cough, chills, body aches, fatigue, and sometimes diarrhea and vomiting
Among the swine flu cases in the United States, none had had any contact with pigs … Marc Lacey and Donald G. McNeil Jr., The New York Times
As swine flu spreads from person to person around the world, it is most often being transmitted by coughing or sneezing … Laura Landro, The Wall Street Journal

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