Hey 15years--my thoughts EXACTLY on that post!!! LOL.. Good greif.

From what I've been reading, this H1N1 virus is similiar to the influenza A strain that caused the Spanish Flu back in 1918. That virus caused only mild cases of illness in the spring and came back during flu season in autumn killing millions of people around the world; specifically healthy young adults.

I really don't know what to think about the media "hype" and doomsday schemes, but obviously there is worry that this will mutate into a more virulent strain if the virus is left to spread unchecked.

Better to be safe then sorry IMO.

Yes, lunch lady needs to look up the definition of "pandemic." Go to the CDC web site. Get the info first hand.

I find it amazing when people post false information, their beliefs or opinions as fact.I sincerely hope none of you people only get your information from posts here on the gazette.A good example of false info is the second sentence three posts below mine.

Just because the disease is killing people who may already have health issues does not mean that it does not need to be controlled. I don't want my grandma to die and we probably all know someone who has health issues...the more people who have the this flu means the more people who will come in contact with people who are at risk. One of the problems with this flu is that, right now, people at risk do not have the option of getting a flu vaccine for it, therefore, they are more at risk than they are with the yearly flu.

You can spread the virus before you have symtoms. I think scientists are concerned about this strain because it's not an average flu that they know - it's a combination of pig (not very deadly), human (average), and bird (dangerous). I don't think the media has gone overboard on this, it's something people need to be aware of- if you don't know about it, how can you take precautions?

This is not a pandemic. A pandemic is when healthy people are killed by the sickness. It is just being blown out of proportion by all the media attention that it is getting. Thusly scaring the public. 36,000 people die from the flu each year. If people would keep themselves and their children home when they show symptoms then it wouldn't spread..

Its almost funny how some people can be so ignorant, possibly out of fear? I dont know the reason but when we are asked to take certain precautions, then as a Country we should. Obviously there are valid concerns over this flu. What I dont get are the people laughing at it..?..Hopefully it does turn out to be just a passing. But what if it doesnt. I guess I would say why risk it. If I was told to buy bottled water for a while, that our cities supply had been possibly contaminated- I would. But there are some of you out there that would just turn a cheek, thats why things like this spread until its too late.

I hope stupidity is fatal, personally.
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This is a serious illness, and it is a pandemic, meaning there are active cases in multiple US states and it is spreading among the population. That does not mean everyone is going to get it, and it certainly does not mean everyone who gets it will die, but it does mean that everyone must take precautions. You can't tell when you're picking up and carrying the virus around.
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In fact, Sandman, this is a 21st century public health response. Closing the borders of the US would be silly -- the US was already the second highest number of cases when this was recognized. If anything, the American borders should be closed going OUT.
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It's far more effective to announce where cases are rising and educate the public about appropriate measures. Those include hand-washing, preferably with a sanitizer, and avoiding symptomatic persons. They do not include needing to know the identity of confirmed cases. By that time, such individuals are already receiving care and presumably following instructions to avoid contact with at-risk groups such as infants, the elderly, and pregnant women (even of a healthy age).
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These are sensible ways to deal with a pandemic, but they do require getting the word out and people following the advice.

What a pointless story, in a string of them on this topic! Where are the cases located geographically? Are they old? Young? Where did they get it from? Where were they before it was identified? Who did they come in contact with since they were infected? Who else should be concerned about catching it?

With all the HIPPA laws and the concern for never inconveniencing or embarrassing anyone, much less closing the borders (Cuba is smarter and more pro-active that we are!), this country couldn't ever prevent the spread of any significant disease until it had done its worst!

If they'd treated small pox and polio this way in the early 1900s, those diseases would have ravaged this country. Thanks for the DIS-information! I guess if (WHEN, actually!) it turns out to a be virulent strain of flu we'll have to read those names in another section of the paper when it's too late - THE OBITUARIES (if we don't end up being the ones listed there first)!

"233 confirmed cases"!!!!!! That has to be a typo. At any rate, this appears to be an orchestrated, overblown, shall I say FAKE, potential "pandemic". My opinion only, we shall see soon enough.

We're all gonna DIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (said with an immense amount of sarcasm)