H1N1 Virus: Paranoia going too far?

Not to scare people, but as a Microbiologist, I'm just going to throw out the two cents of influenza.

In response to the topic of this thread, yes, there's way too much paranoia about the virus (lol people thinking they have it going to ER), spread mostly by the mass media focusing on stories of death and outbreak. It's easy for any incompetent person who just watches FOX news to get worked up by something like this.

However, there should be a little more concern than what you guys have said. No, this isn't any ordinary flu in that it's already heavily affecting the 18-42 year old age group, the one group that is least affected by seasonal flu. That's a huge sign for concern, as that points to the true infectability of the virus compared to past ones, putting it at the same level (again, in terms of infection) as past pandemic flus in 1918 and 1957.

Virologists like to make the sick joke that the most certain thing we know about influenza is its uncertainty.

Influenza viruses are one of the fastest mutating pathogens on the planet. That's why you need to get a new seasonal flu shot every year - because the virus has already changed once or twice before the next flu season hits, and your old vaccine is ineffective against the new particle.

So what does this uncertainty mean for H1N1? That we've been extremely lucky it hasn't mutated yet and we've had the time to stockpile vaccines to its current form. If they can be administered en masse humans might have a chance of evading infection, but all the virus needs to do is mutate in the smallest degree to make our vaccines obsolete.

Oh, and about symptoms too: the symptoms are, as with the current strain, similar to the ordinary flu. If the virus mutates, all it has to do is increase its ability to kill people, as it already has prime infectability. Then it's the 1918 Spanish Influenza all over again, but look - if it mutates now, that's a prime time to strike, as the heavily populated Northern Hemisphere is about to enter Winter, the months of close indoor contact.

So what should YOU do? Don't flip out, but you guys are already doing that well enough. However, don't think you're invincible to the virus. Pathogenic viruses are dangerous particles, and influenza is, believe it or not, one of the most dangerous, simply due to its ability to mutate so frequently. Don't underestimate the future, so prepare yourself with appropriate shots (seasonal flu and H1N1, when they're released in your area). Like I said earlier, if the virus mutates there's a good chance the vaccine would be rendered useless, but it's better than a host of possibilities of killing you had you not gotten it (namely catching H1N1 when immunosuppressed from another disease, like cold or pneumonia).

In a nutshell? It's not bad now, but it could be your worst nightmare overnight, so don't mess around.

Dan, that's one well-written piece right there. xD

@ Berzerk: Unless you're an old person with a weakened immune system, then it may not apply all the time. Old people actually have some resistance against the flu since they have a shetload of antibodies that they can use since they may have been exposed to many strains of flu pathogens.

For the extremely young: Sadly, this is true. Just saw an Associated Press report that stated some 70 children died from H1N1 so far this year. Seasonal flu kills between 40-80 children per year. Looks like this is gonna be hell for the very young this year. =\