MANILA, Philippines ? The disease that the world loves to refer to as ?swine flu? is actually a combination of one strain endemic in humans, one endemic in birds, and two endemic in swine.

It?s known technically as 2009 H1N1 virus or Influenza A (H1N1).

And unlike what its more popular name seems to imply, this virus?as what experts and pig raisers have been reiterating?has not been shown to be transmissible through eating pork or its derivatives.

Even handling raw pork poses no realistic risk of infection.

Indeed, like the ?swine flu? name itself, misinformation is spreading like a virus across the Internet, around cafés and across fences.

Some other facts

Here are some other facts to dispel myths about Influenza A (H1N1) virus:

? Despite what may be advertised in the Internet or some place else, there is no effective vaccine already available yet to fight the new Influenza A (H1N1) virus.

To be effective, a vaccine maker needs to manufacture one that matches a particular virus strain. Since the Influenza A (H1N1) virus is new, the World Health Organization informed that making the completely new influenza vaccine could take five to six months.

? Wearing face mask may be helpful but not entirely effective. These loose-fitting and inexpensive covering?and should be worn only once?are only designed to help stop respiratory droplets of coughs and sneezes from getting to the mouth and nose of person wearing the mask.

This gives people a false sense of security considering that these masks are not built to protect the wearer from breathing in very small particles that may contain the flu virus. Charles E. Buban