What is the swine flu?

I've been reading a lot about this swine flu in Mexico and am wondering what it is? Is all of the risk involved simply from being around pigs, like at a petting zoo, farm, etc? Or can the swine flu also transmit by air? As far as the US is concerned, is the swine flu mostly centered around the states by Mexico, like CA, TX, etc, or does geography not really matter? Just curious, and hoping the swine flu is more like the avian flu and more hype than reality.

statler

[ea_poe]

The cases of swine flu that I had read about were in CA, KS and TX so very close to Mexico. However, it looks like some college kids in NYC might have it now, but it was clear if they caught swine flu from travelling or if it's even the same strain of swine flu as what's in Mexico.

[SFmonsterdark]

I was just talking with my wife about this as I commute to SF weekday and my bus stops at the SF airport everyday.. I think at this point a mask might be a bit much, but I am considering it.  State and federal health officials said there is little cause for alarm in the United States at this point - all of the U.S. cases have been mild, and the flu has been responsive to drugs. Everyone infected so far has fully recovered; one woman was hospitalized, but she had an underlying condition that complicated her case, state public health officials said.

[sk123]

Dr. Enoch Choi is going to be doing a health chat on Wednesday about the swine flu. I plan on attending. My mom keeps warning me about this flu and I'm going to Mexico for a wedding next month!

http://www.medhelp.org/health_chats/list_upcoming

[Sealine]

The latest figures indicate that about 2500 people have been ill with the swine flu and sadly a159 have died. That is a mortality rate of .06%. Contrast that with the approximately 35,00 Americans that die every flu season as a result of the more common flu strains- that's over 800 deaths per week in this country alone. Yet the press and media for the most part have doen nothing but fan the flames of hysteria on a global scale. The fear and panic being created is going to do great economic damage, which in turn will cause very real pain and suffering for millions of people. Someone needs ot be the voice of reason in this outbreak and provide intelligent and objective reporting that will keep people from taking rash, actions rooted in media induced ignorance. While it may not produce the kind or ratings that promoting fear and panic does, it would help protect millions around the globe from having to suffer from what could be very significant economic damage resulting from misinformed people making fear-driven choices decisions in a sort of global knee jerk reaction. See also http://digg.com/d1pqEz