Can you get Swine Flu twice?

[Becca]

I think I have it again but I don't know if you can get it twice. Last time I had it I got given tablets and I was fine after two weeks. Maybe I need the jab? I seriously have no clue so any ideas?

[Moh]

Theoretically - but unlikely.

[Mathew]

It's highly unlikely but you could.
On one hand, if you've already had swine flu, antibodies in your immune system will attack the infection if you happen to get it again; and hence you won't suffer.

But.. it's possible that the flu has mutated (DNA string been changed around), hence it's a totally new flu and you may suffer again. It's highly unlikely that you'd get it once, then the second one would find it's way to you again.. :P

I never thought Year 10 Biology would be useful but it seems like it's come in handy somewhere! :P

[Conservative,]

I believe it's not possible. Or certainly highly unlikely, mainly because once you get it, your immune system fights it - inevitably wins, then you remember how to fight it so you can't get it again. The doctors told my mum when she got it you can't get it again.

You probably just have regular flu...don't know why everyone with a bad headache and runny nose automatically thinks swine flu - it's basically regular flu with a hyped up name ;l

[flatface]

I believe it's not possible. Or certainly highly unlikely, mainly because once you get it, your immune system fights it - inevitably wins, then you remember how to fight it so you can't get it again. The doctors told my mum when she got it you can't get it again.

You probably just have regular flu...don't know why everyone with a bad headache and runny nose automatically thinks swine flu - it's basically regular flu with a hyped up name ;l

I'm not an expect but there is different strains of Swine Flu, my friend has had it twice, so yes you can :)

[Becca]

I thought that I did cause' on the website it says what symptoms you get and I basically had all of them:

unusual tiredness
headache
runny nose
sore throat
shortness of breath or cough
loss of appetite
aching muscles

i've also been vomiting a lot but all of them are on the website

[Conservative,]

I'm not an expect but there is different strains of Swine Flu, my friend has had it twice, so yes you can :)

If you are exposed to an identical version of the H1N1 flu that you had previously after you have recovered fully from it the first time, then your body should have developed immunity to all genetically identical H1N1 flu and you would not get it a second time. However, the flu can change by mutations and if it does change enough that the immune system no longer sees it as identical, then you would not have immunity to the mutated strain. This is a similar concept to why we need different seasonal flu vaccine every year.

Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Can_you_get_the_swine_flu_more_than_once#ixzz18e2U iPAn

[Gibs960]

Depends if you had the jab or if you had tablets I think :\

[Dean]

If you're really worried, go to the doctor. I don't know how old you have to be get the flu jab though, can't harm trying.

[Conservative,]

If you're really worried, go to the doctor. I don't know how old you have to be get the flu jab though, can't harm trying.

I've had it since I was 4/5 so I think most people can :)

[Inseriousity.]

Better safe than sorry imo. Although doctors aren't a fan of self-diagnosis from the internet :P

[Lgq]

yeah you can easily get it again, the flu virus is renowned for it's ability to mutate relatively fast that's why people can become sick from it up to about eight times a year

[FlyingJesus]

I thought that I did cause' on the website it says what symptoms you get and I basically had all of them:

unusual tiredness
headache
runny nose
sore throat
shortness of breath or cough
loss of appetite
aching muscles

i've also been vomiting a lot but all of them are on the website

All 'flu types have those symptoms, it's rather unlikely that you'll get swine flu right now :P those symptoms can also just be a bad cold, which is likely the case if you're ok to be up and about rather than completely bedbound

[Phil]

You probably don't have swine flu, is the whole charade not over? Anyway yes, you could receive it again when it was still around whcih is why it was so important you didn't re-use your tissues etc

[Catzsy]

I've had it since I was 4/5 so I think most people can :)

They can if they pay for it otherwise under 60 you have to be in an 'at risk' group. I have it because I am asthmatic.

[HotelUser]

Better safe than sorry imo. Although doctors aren't a fan of self-diagnosis from the internet :P

You should meet my doctor :P

Becca to repeat what I said before this is not the same strand of flu because you cannot get the same flu twice because your body already has the antibodies and memory cells to fit against it.

Go to the doctor, you obviously have a sort of flu that needs to be treated anyway :)

[Circadia]

If you had the flu you wouldn't be on the computer posting about it as you would be more than likely bed bound. Also, swine flu hasn't stopped at all just the cases of it have dropped dramatically. On the news the other day it said that there had been 15 death from swine flu this year, so swine flu has definitely not gone away.

[Narnat,]

I don't think their is a high percentage that you could get it. However there is a first for everything..