Reader comments
Utah wants 'Flu Fighters'

Yes, it is a good idea to stop shaking hands during the flu season, but many people in churches also hug each other. This should probably also be stopped. Is a pat on the shoulder, high above the crook of the elbow where we are suposed to cough safe?

Ever wonder why we see the Japanese people always wearing those face masks during cold and flu seasons and why they bow to each other to avoid physical contact? Maybe this would be a good idea for the american public to minimize the spread of this deadly flu.

Handing out cheap surgical type face masks would do a lot more good than all the TV ads they pay for. I guess with the mentality of the americans they would rather get sick and pay a lot of doctor bills than a few pennies for prevention. For what we pay for costly medications should be enough incentive to think about ways of prevention.

Take vit. D3 and drink green tea. I used to get the flu every year. I haven't gotten it for the last 2 years. Thanks.

No one wants to get sick. But this flu is no worse than other flu strains. So let's not panic people.

It is worse. It has already killed 1000 people in the US. More than the entire seasonal flu last year, and the peak has not started. Don't panic, but get vaccinated and wash your hands often.

Would love to fight the flu. If I could get a flu shot!!!!
Someone did not plan very well.

Accoding to the CDC every year 5% - 20% of the popolation gets the flu. 200,000 are hospitalized and 36,000 die from flu related symptoms. So I'm wondering how you compare 1,000 to 36,000 and say the swine flu is worse.

The problem is the timing. We have had so much so fast, and we have really only been in "flu season" since the middle of September. If the current rate continues, that will be kind of high.

On the other hand, MOST people recover after a few days, so panic is not warranted. Caution is.

I think they may have meant the number of kids' deaths, which is already higher than the number of kids' deaths during a regular flu season, although the 1,000 number is total number of deaths so far. Suffice to say, kids are getting hit the hardest, it seems.