"Swine flu is a mix of pig, bird and human genes to which people have limited natural immunity. It has symptoms nearly identical to regular flu — fever, cough and sore throat — and spreads similarly, through tiny particles in the air, when people cough or sneeze. About 36,000 people die each year of flu in the United States."

I do recall Hong Kong flu the 1968-89 pandemic that killed about 700,000 people worldwide. It killed about the average for flu in a year: 35,000, mostly elderly. But was there the panic I feel today? No. I wonder why (I have many guesses.)

Anyway, while this can be serious, and we need to take it seriously, it isn't a panic-ridden state of affairs. Do what wise, healthy people do: wash your hands often, keep your hands away from your face. (Wash your hands before and after using the toilet!!! This is something most people don't do!) I'll bet with the heightened focus on WASHING YOUR HANDS after more often we might not even see the usual 36 THOUSAND deaths from flu this year...after all, flu season is practically over.

Mexico has admitted that only about 20 of the deaths they reported are actually from the flu. Of course we really don't know their accounting system.

That it's rated by the WHO to higher level, that only means it's "in" more countries...maybe 1 or 2 people alone could do that.

Rated by the WHO. Ok, while we need to take this seriously can we be a bit light about it too? The WHO being a rock band.. made me think that back when the Hong Kong Flu was about, so many of "us" didn't seem to panic probably because "we" were too busy smoking pot and getting high on not too heavy stuff... and couldn't care less about Hong Kong or anything else they had going on... and some of "us" might have even thought it was a new Rock Band: Hong Kong flu.

So maybe this will just be " Mexican flu."..it surely isn't swine flu... just a subtype of 3 flues (human, avian, swine.) The media, once again, is trying to calm you while instilling panic. Subtypes are not generally as "dangerous" as main strains. but then...if you are one of the 36,000 people (in the USA) to die this year from flu... but you didn't last year..or the year before or the year before that...

I carry a mask with me. If ONE person coughs around me, I hand THEM the mask. If more than one person coughs, I put on the mask!