What makes swine flu different from regular flu?
From a lab point of view, this virus is something altogether new. It has the DNA of pig flu viruses as well as bird and human flu viruses.
From a clinical point of view, it is not a whole lot different - in most patients. In the vast majority of cases, it causes similar symptoms: fever, cough aches, fatigue. Some who suspect they've had swine flu say the symptoms lasted longer than a regular flu and left them more exhausted, but for most, this new virus is not causing severe illness. While there were worries in the virus' early days, that it was killing lots of young and healthy people, we now know that deaths are relatively rare. And remember: seasonal flu is often fatal in the elderly and even, on occasion, kills young, healthy victims.
What makes swine flu so remarkable is the fact that it emerged outside of the traditional "flu season," and has continued to sicken people throughout the summer. It has also managed to spread around the globe more rapidly than any previous influenza outbreak, spreading as fast in its first six weeks than past pandemics spread in six months. With virtually every nation in the world infected, this virus will be with us for while.
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