What you need to know about swine flu

--Swine flu, officially known as H1N1 novel influenza, is a virus that is spread the same way other viruses are spread. You can't get it from handling or eating pork, and the virus only lives for a short time on objects that were handled by sick people.

--Health officials are advising anyone with flu-like symptoms to see their doctor immediately. Those symptoms include fever, body aches, chills, fatigue, dry cough, headache, sore throat and stuffy nose.

--There is no vaccine to prevent this particular strain of flu. Retroviral drugs, such as Tamiflu, are effective, but doctors are urging people not to take them as a preventative measure so there will be enough to go around in the event of widespread infection.

--To protect yourself and others, follow common sanitary practices, including handwashing, covering your mouth when you sneeze or cough, and avoiding contact with sick people (or healthy people, if you're sick).