Exactly.
They put 'Swine' in front of flu and people went, "OH NOES, WE GON DIE!!!!"
I couldn't agree more. There will be around 30,000 deaths from regular flu this year in the US as opposed to the couple hundred from H1N1. The media can make the American public believe whatever they want.
This really isn't a media thing. The situation truly concerns those who study infectious diseases for several reasons:
1. The typical age groups for seasonal flu are the very young, the elderly and those already sick. H1N1 is hitting children and young adults - groups not normally affected.
2. The speed with which it spread.
3. Being a relatively new strain, if it mutates it could be extremely serious.
4. Pregnant women have been especially hard hit.
So far, about 500 US deaths, but that number doubled over the summer. And the CDC is still forecasting 30,000 to 90,000 deaths.
Not a media thing.
As stated before, there are also an average of 30,000+ deaths every year from the seasonal flu. It's no more severe than that! Your #3 concern is correct though. Although right now that is only a possibility not a reality. Also the Health Center here on campus is not testing for H1N1 because they said the symptoms have been less severe and of shorter duration than the standard seasonal flu. CNN interviewed some students at Washington State university who had just got over H1N1 and they all said it was much less severe than the seasonal flu, "It was like having a really bad cold."
