It's been circulating all summer in the Northern Hemisphere, which influenza viruses usually don't do, and now that college is resuming across the U.S., outbreaks are already being reported. The 'good news,' as it were, is that it now is clear that 30-50% of swine flu infections do not involve fever, and really are fairly mild (Dr. Niman, Pittsburgh's prophet of doom, is good on this subject). The odds are pretty good that a majority of readers of this blog (since most are either academics or students) are either going to get swine flu or have already had it (perhaps without knowing it). If, in fact, the incidence of infection is much higher than realized (because those with mild symptoms do not usually seek medical care), than the mortality associated with this strain of flu is really very low. And if there has already been widespread infection with it, then, if we're lucky, there won't be as much transmission this fall as feared. Still, it's a good bet that there will be a lot of absent students and faculty in September and October. Meanwhile, The Accidental Blogger, who grew up in an environment with far deadlier viruses in circulation, has some sensible advice about how to avoid getting sick.
UPDATE: Another example of what schools will be up against this fall.
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