Swine Flu H1N1 - Off Again On Again

Just when we thought the worst was over, swine flu H1N1 makes the headlines again, with three public schools in New York closing due to confirmed and suspected cases of swine flu. One assistant principal at Queens middle school is in critical condition from the disease.

Four people in the US have died from swine flu, and over 4700 people across 47 states have confirmed infections. Worldwide, there have been 7520 cases across 34 countries and 66 deaths due to swine flu.

Many experts have predicted that with the increasing summer temperatures, the incidence of swine flu will wane, but come back in the fall with a vengeance. In their "Assessment of the Current Situation", the WHO states that although the current strain is relatively mild in most healthy people, it appears to be somewhat more contagious than seasonal flu. They also indicate that the variability in mutations of influenza viruses makes it difficult to predict how the virus might behave in the fall.

In short, stay tuned, and keep washing your hands.