Yes, there is alot of unreasonable hysteria surrounding the H1N1 strain. It's not significantly more dangerous than the regular seasonal flu, but a small portion of the fatalities are people who would not normally be considered at risk.

The initial outbreak is responsible for much of the concern. Chances are very few people who initially caught the virus seeked treatment, so the perceived fatality rate was grossly inflated (or it was a statistical anomaly).

Many people who are infected with the virus (myself included) only suffer mild symptoms, and recover quickly. Getting vaccinated isn't a bad idea, but it's not any different from any other flu season. If you're part of an at risk population you should be getting vaccinated every year. The same applies if you want to avoid missing work, or simply wish to avoid being sick.

It's important to remember the flu is spread primarily through the air. Touching a contaminated surface and then touching your face without washing your hands can also spread the disease.
Source(s):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_flu_pandemic

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I having had the flu already am not taking as much caution because I feel my body has dealt with it and it would be less harsh if I got it again. I do try to stay away from those who show similar symptoms to what I had (fever, severe headaches, body aches and so on) I won't totally isolate them but if I have an option to be in a different room then I find myself going there instead. I wouldn't run from the sick as much if I wasn't currently job hunting...I don't need any more obstacles at this point. I personally feel if there hadn't been any fatalities then the Swine flu would be a different story, but when fatalities are included then everyone goes into a panic....
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I'm inclined to think that if we act responsibly it's largely hype.

I guess the thing is, if you feel lousy, stay home. Cover your mouth when you sneeze (with your arm, not your hand!) and wash your hands when you come in from the outdoors, handle anything dirty or publie (like money!) And encourage others to do the same. If everyone followed the basics, it wouldn't be a large issue. I personally am not going to try to get vaccinated (though it is something I support for smallpox and other diseases, I'm not against vaccines as a principal, a lot of people are still alive because of them!).

Part of the problem/concern is that it is believed to be the same strain that was behind the Pandemic around WWI. And that was the first proper pandemic. So people look at the past, which is good, but they don't seem to be getting the lessons about being careful and keeping good hygene and instead look to vaccines to save us since they have from other nastier diseases.

I think people don't get that you can't really treat a virus, it needs time and hydration, there isn't a magic pill to make it better.
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I'm going to go with Answer C: *Possible* Pandemic

I mean, aside from governmental classifications, I think there is real potential for the Swine Flu to turn into something scary, the type of pandemic that history books have been warning us about for ages. Right now, we're not there yet. Thank god. But waiting to act and take precautions until death is knocking on all of your neighborhood doors is a dangerous idea.

So what about the idea that this is just a hoax? Well you're right about one thing: There are a lot of people who stand to make money from this. But I have a hard time believing the U.S. government in cooperation with the CDC would hype this considering it is costing our country, our businesses, and our citizens a lot of money:

Cost of closing schools for Swine Flu: (potentially) $10 billion+
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Cost to economy of people missing work/closing businesses from Swine Flu illness: $billions
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Cost to government for Swine Flu vaccines: $7.65 billion
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With the economy in the state it's in, I can't imagine even the most insane government wanting to dig a bigger hole for itself, simply to pad the pockets of drug companies.

So is this a HOAX? No, the numbers don't add up for it to be a hoax.
Is it HYPE? Maybe.

Next let's address the idea that this is no different from the Seasonal Flu that hits--and kills--every year. Yes, it's true that Seasonal Flu can be very deadly. But there IS a difference, an increased threat. And even if it's not time to head for the fallout bunker just yet, there are some extra reasons for concern, ESPECIALLY if you are in a high-risk group.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SEASONAL FLU & SWINE FLU:
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*The Swine Flu tends to infiltrate and replicate inside the lungs, compared to the Seasonal Flu, which mainly targets the nasal area. This can cause greater respiratory distress and lead to deadly conditions, like pneumonia, easily.

*The WHO stated earlier this year that Swine Flu is more contagious than Seasonal Flu.

* The Swine Flu seems to stay active during warm-weather months, whereas Seasonal Flu bugs struggle to spread during summer. Scientists aren't sure why.

*The Swine Flu is new. It is a "novel" virus in that we do not have any form of immunity against this new virus. On the other hand, we do have *some* immunities already built-in against the Seasonal Flu. Even if we battle a strain we haven't had before, we have some existing limited immunity and protection, helping our body battle it. This isn't true with Swine Flu (except for some adults born prior to 1957).

*The Swine Flu can also include intestinal symptoms, in addition to the standard Seasonal Flu symptoms.

*It is posing a much greater health risk to healthy young adults and children, whose immune systems may be *too* strong and overreacting to the virus. This virus has been shown to trigger a "cytokine storm", in which the immune system causes damages to the lungs, often with fatal results.
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The differences (if any) in fatality rates are not known yet, and probably won't be known for years.

So yes, I'm getting vaccinated. My toddler daughter already received her vaccine injection last week, and yes, I waited in line. In the cold. For a long time. For the past couple months, I've been taking extra precautions using hand sanitizers after going out, and washing my hands before I eat.

And even though the herd may need thinning, biologically speaking, you won't find me cheering for it to happen. Yikes. I doubt you'd want your family to be the first to be "thinned". I sure don't want mine to be!

I just don't like to take chance with our health. If I'm wrong--phew! I'd prefer to be wrong and have the Swine Flu turn into nothing!

But if it doesn't?....my mom always told me, "Better to be safe than sorry!", and I'm going with that line of thinking this time. ;)
Source(s):
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33087922/
http://www.abc2news.com/content/swineflu/story/Swine-Flu-Could-Cost-U-S-Bus...
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/health/july-dec09/flu-costs_10-08.html

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/hscout/2009/07/02/hscout628674.html
http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/influenza/panflu/news/may1109sever...
http://www.marshfieldclinic.org/patients/?page=contenthubs-flu-vs
http://www.co.douglas.or.us/health/PH/HealthPromo%20Documents/H1N1%20VS%20S...
http://scrippsnews.com/content/differences-between-seasonal-flu-and-h1n1
http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2009/05/06/H1N1-flu-may-induce-a-cytokine-st...

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The flu epidemic of 1918 killed about 50 million people. You don't want the governments and media to worry about a new flu epidemic until after it happens?
It's not a hoax, it has been confirmed as a pandemic by the world health authorities who study such things.
There is no way to predict how deadly this pandemic will be, quite a few people have died but not in massive numbers. One hopes for the best, that between improved health care, vaccinations, and just lower fatality rates for this strain, that the overall effect will be more moderate.
But it really makes no sense whatsoever to stick your head in the sand and cry hoax when all the reputable medical and scientific authorities agree.
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I am not sure what it is. But it is making people scared. Evan Frustaglio, of Toronto a 13 year old boy is dead because of it. He got flue like symptoms. His dad took him to a clinic. He was not diagnosed correctly. He is dead on Monday. http://thechronicleherald.ca/Front/9013781.html
Read the above link and tell me why one should not be alarmed???
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2009/11/02/frustalgio-funeral.html
The vaccines are available to the high risk groups only in Toronto.
http://www.citytv.com/toronto/citynews/news/local/article/62179--t-o-flu-shot-clinics-open-monday-to-high-risk-groups-only
I am a bit scared to take the extra caution with my family. I am repeatedly asking my family to wash hands with soap when they come from outside. Bought extra Purell bottles to have them handy. If my kid is having a cold, I keep her at home.
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Swine flu is scary. It's a pandemic by definition because it's so widespread. But people are panicking because of what happened last time.
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H1N1 COULD become a serious threat to someone who has underlying medical conditions, is 5 years and younger, or is pregnant. You can protect yourself and family from H1N1 with common sense and logic. Properly washing hands is the best and easiest way to prevent Swine Flu.
http://www.ehow.com/how_4933195_protect-yourself-hn-swine-flu.html
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