The flu is a disease thats plagued people for awhile. It affects many people all the time. If the swine flu is no problem, why has it suddenly become so important, enough that its in the newspapers. Why is the normal flu not a huge concern if it has killed more then the swine flu, and how can we stay clean?
When did this flu start? It seems like its come on so fast, but so many have died from it already in other countries. Isnt the normal flu bad anyways? If that has killed 36,000 a year in the U.S., how come it isnt talked about more?
How can we be so sure it is deadly enough to start taking more concerned measures? Washing your own hands more frequently cant be the only precaution. That helps you be more clean, but not the other people around you. Bathrooms need to be cleaned more frequently. Even if someone washes their hands frequently they contaminate their hands as soon as they turn off the water and get a towel.
I don't understand how this can be a big concern.

The flu epidemic of 1914 or 1918 or whatever was a huge deal. My grandmother lost several siblings in this pandemic.

People out of the medical community don't understand the importance of washing hands. Most colds are contracted from the viruses that get transmitted from hand to nose or mouth. And how many children put their fingers in their mouths? How many adults?

My grandchildren learned to wash their hands by singing the "ABC" song as they soaped up in order to wash their hands long enough with soap to kill these germs.

If someone sneezes in your face you're at risk for any respiratory condition.

Yet, the media hypes up everything to fill air time. I sure get tired of it.

The 1918 'flu pandemic killed about 30 millions apparently, and the 1957 one killed much less but still 100,000 with 70,000 in the USA. Hong Kong Flu in 1968 is said to have killed 700,000 worlwide.

I'm not sure why the fuss about this recent outbreak unless "they" are expecting it to be especially devastating. How would anyone know how it will turn out? Time will tell.