Why the concern

The novel strain of A/H1N1 influenza (swine flu) represents a potential threat to the health and lives of a large segment of the population worldwide. Although many are choosing now to discount this threat, it still remains despite the "mild" nature of the illnesses produced thusfar.

For those who want to look at the number of people officially listed as having become infected and those who died, here is what the World Health Organization says as of 5/11:

Influenza A(H1N1) - update 25

That translates out to around 1.13%. Seasonal influenza kills about 0.001% worldwide (citation needed). Granted, there are real problems with the numbers but out by the WHO, but for those who would point to that as evidence this is nothing bad, you have to look at what else the numbers say.

There is also the concern that the H1N1 and H5N1 (bird flu) viruses could meet in, perhaps, a pig or human, and the resulting virus could be highly transmissable like the novel H1N1 and with the high fatality rate of H5N1 (50-60% of persons infected with H5N1 die) (citation needed).

To be continued....