Swine flu pandemic - what does it mean if it gets to this stage?

"The Swine Flu strain A/H1N1 Virus appears to be spread in the same way as the seasonal flu virus is spread." - see reference included with this response. Lets not forget it's 'the flu'... a strain of the flu. Australia might be chalking up big numbers of H1N1 cases but you also need to consider we have just entered the cold and flu season as well. If you live in Aus, have a routine that you follow to avoid the flu, and it works, stick to it. The media likes to build up bad news as an image of impending doom because it sells papers/magazines. A move to Stage 6 is the WHO's way of warning us to practice extra caution above-and-beyond what we may during the cold and flu season. Again, the URL reference states some simple practices you can put in place in keeping clear of the flu. ...this is my 2 cents ;-)

Let's not get so complacent People. This is exactly a good time for us to review our hygiene practices. Do not panic, but let's all do our bit- covering our faces when sneezing and coughing, and cleaning our hands regularly. One world, one community.

This will never happen. According to the CDC 36,000 Americans die every year from the flu. Only 27 people have died in the US from the swine flu so far. That's on track for accounting for 0.15 of one percent of all flu related deaths. Swine flu worries are mostly a media created hysteria blown all out of proportion because they apparently can't find anything else to report on. There is zero chance of the virus becoming a pandemic.

The first reply to your question is a typical reply. Until the 'Swine flu' starts killing people here in Australia, most people like the person who answered first have that typical 'relaxed' view. We all know that the influenza kills many older people in this country each year but 'Swine flu', so the experts tell us, place the younger generation at more risk. Not sure what the Government will do but I suppose travelling interstate and overseas may be stopped. I know from my experience that people have travelled to Victoria and have come back and gone straight back to what they had been doing, that is work, church etc. So it will only get worse. How worse we don't know yet. Schools have been closed so I suppose more schools could be and public areas such as train stations. The worse scenario would be nobody goes to work. It could cost millions. But who knows. Hopefully it will not get that bad but the way it's going I say there's a good chance.

It means the makers of Tamiflu and labs that produce flu vaccine are absolutely raking in the cash from media hysteria over it. It would be interesting to trace conflict of interest issues within the two industries.

Just means that ignorant people who are sick are running around spreading the virus. If people are sick they should just stay home and stop infecting the innocent people. All I can say is thank god I dont live in victoria.

The WHO didn't announce , swine flu has a pandemic yet , they said it will be one. If the swine flu is a pandemic , public gathering places will be closed , for ex: schools,theaters,restaurants, and stadiums too. If it is announced, it will be the first influenza pandemic in 41 years. The media is saying it is a huge deal . the swine flu genome is a combination of all 3 flu's (human,bird,swine ). Many Deaths will occur . simultaneously. gatherings will be closed for at least a week or 2 , maybe a month or 5, possibly a year.

We will all probably die.

The Swine Flu is so deadly, you can now catch it over the internet....It won't be long until YA's closes....I'm just going to go and wash my hands