Lets talk about the Swine flu...

What a lot of people don't realize is that much of the real concern regarding this flu is that it is only a small number of mutations away from something that could wreak havoc on the population. Given the propensity for the flu to mutate (its a horribly unregulated genetic reproducer, compared to most other virus genomes...that's why there is a yearly vaccine vs only one vaccine for chicken pox, as chicken pox is genetically stable), its not unreasonable for H1N1 to change into a real killer and then it will be too late to enact immunizations. Meanwhile, the normal seasonal flu probably has a similar mortality rate to it as H1N1, its genetic markers are too far removed from the Spanish Flu to likely be much threat in mutating into that killer.

The caution shouldn't be regarding what H1N1 is, but what it could become. That said, it is reasonable to take precautions seriously. But, rash decisions, panic, sensationalization should not be part of the equation. But, it seems that the media only knows one way to sell commercials.