It has emerged the four Kumasi Academy students who died over the last few days died of Influenza Type A popularly referred to as Swine Flu.

Health Minister for Ghana, Kwaku Agyemang Manu has said 12 out of the 19 cases sent to the Noguchi Memorial Institute has tested positive for the virus.

READ ALSO: Influenza A virus H1N1 kills over 7 students in Ghanaian high school

Providing more details, the Minister said the Influenza type A has the H1N1 Pandemic strain.

But what is influenza A virus H1N1?

Business Insider Sub Saharan Africa gives a comprehensive explanation written by medBroadcast on what the pandemic is.

H1N1 influenza

H1N1 influenza is a contagious respiratory disease that causes symptoms of seasonal influenza in people.

READ ALSO: What is Aphasia? The disease that has hit ex Ghana striker Agogo

The name "swine flu" was initially used to describe this type of influenza because laboratory tests showed that this strain of flu virus was made up of genes that were very similar to the ones that caused influenza among pigs (swine). Just like humans, pigs can get the flu.

The H1N1 flu virus is made up of genes from several different flu viruses that normally circulate among pigs, birds, and humans. This strain was the most common cause of influenza in 2009, when it caused disease worldwide (“pandemic”).

Causes

H1N1 flu is caused by a influenza A virus.

The letters H and N in the subtype name stand for proteins found on the surface of the virus, which are used to distinguish between different influenza A subtypes.

Coughing and sneezing release the germs into the air, where they can be breathed in by others. The virus can also rest on hard surfaces like doorknobs, ATM buttons, and counters. A person who touches these surfaces with their hands and then touches their eyes, mouth, or nose can become infected with the virus. Influenza is generally not spread by eating food or drinking water.

Symptoms and Complications

The various strains of influenza A virus infection produce the same kinds of symptoms. People may experience:

LIVE Royal Cremation Ceremony for H.M.King Bhumibol Adulyadej.