There are many, many different viruses floating in the air during flu season. Many of them we have developed a resistance to, our body has created antibodies to defend us from them. Others we have no defense for and eventually get runny noses and coughs from them. The coming year this virus will not infect us again because we will have developed antibodies for it. The problem is that there are millions of such viruses around. There are millions in the USA and many more outside the USA . Every time a person comes into the USA from another country during flu season it is highly probable that he or she are bringing a new, totally unknown strain with them.

Seasonal flu vaccines are created using strains of influenza that have been around for a while and that are known and common to specific areas of the world. It is impossible to create a vaccine that will protect you against all viruses. A virus mutates, combines with another, and grows resistant to medication. It is alive and changing constantly. A particular strain may disappear for a while and next year return stronger and deadlier.

H1N1 Swine Influenza is a respiratory disease that affects pigs. Swine influenza is caused by a Type A virus when it hits a community of pigs it may cause extreme illness but a low death toll. The first Type A influenza virus was first isolated and identified back in 1930 in the USA. Influenza is permanently found in pigs, it lies dormant during the year and suddenly outbreaks during the late fall and winter months, at the same time human influenza virus outbreak.

Type A virus are extremely mutating and changing viruses. They add new genes and reorder themselves constantly. It is very hard to keep up with them. Pig farms, especially large farms are constantly bringing in new individuals from other farms, buying and selling reproduction stock and stock to be butchered. These pigs that change farms or are slaughtered are not inspected for influenza symptoms during the year because they do not have any. Symptoms show up during the winter in the same manner they do with humans.

The Canadian Cancer Society, B.C. and Yukon Division says its quit smoking programs, advocacy and education efforts support the global trend to prohibit smoking in any public place, including bars, restaurants and airports.

With reach into neighbourhoods from Whitehorse to White Rock, the Society leads the charge for healthy communities with its steadfast fight against tobacco. National Non-Smoking Week, January 21 to 27, is an opportunity to remind British Columbians and Yukoners there is more work to do in tobacco control.

"B.C. is a major tourist destination the likes of Hawaii, Australia, and Hong Kong which have all implemented effective smoke-free laws to protect visitors and residents from involuntary exposure to second-hand smoke," says Barbara Kaminsky, CEO for the Canadian Cancer Society, B.C. and Yukon Division.