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Swine Flu discussion
Swine flu is the name given to a strain of influenza A virus which resulted in a pandemic classification in 2009.
The uniqueness of this particular pandemic is that for the first time we can watch the event in 'realtime'. There is nothing better from a media perspective than an approaching potential disaster.
Previously new viruses were identified by slowly growing them in special media which took weeks. So they were identified well after they had spread throughout the World. Nowadays the virus can be identified by a DNA footprint in a matter of hours and the internet allows the World to watch.
This influenza started out as an unknown villain. So in a way the WHO and other organisations were justified in launching unprecedented pandemic measures. This virus could have had a much higher mortality and by this stage the World panic would have been nuclear in proportion. Luckily the virus seems to be similar to ordinary flu, which means the measures may indeed be a little spectacular.
Facts about Swine Flu
In 2009 there were 191 deaths and several thousand admissions to intensive care units in 2009 in Australia.
Many of those were younger Australians who were otherwise healthy. This is the big difference between swine flu and 'ordinary flu' which tends to affect th infirm and elderly.
Pregnant women were particularly prone to serious infection
The vaccine for swine flu is available in paediatric and adult doses.
A second wave may occur late in 2010
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