Like most of these pandemic fears, I think people tend to over-react to how it may impact them directly while underestimating how it could impact the world on the whole ...

Throughout the western world healthcare and sanitation are good enough, and the government is capable enough, to limit the spread of the illness that the risk of catching any illness is pretty low; and the probability of dying from the illness is as low as can be. Unfortunately, conditions like this are not universal and if you got a serious outbreak in (some areas of) South America, Africa or Asia tens (or hundreds) of millions of people could die of flu ... Even if you assumed that the outbreak was limited to the western world and (somewhat) contained, the damage that it can do to the local (and global) economy is actually pretty pronounced.

I noticed people saying that they've had their flu shot this year so they're not worried.. Well a vaccine works essentially by a lock and key method. If they don't the EXACT fit then you are not protected. As the protiens for this particular strain are not structured in the same way as strains in your vaccines are.. You aren't protected at all..

Australia is just now coming into flu season and there's been talk of infrared cameras being setup in airports to detect high body heat and thus fever and quaranteen those people.

Honestly.. Some of you guys really need to think about the big picture here, I know some are joking but this is a serious matter so you should be treating it as such.

...

how old are you?

US pharmaceutical companies will cash in off the swine flu outbreak. Those US companies will make billions of dollars through vaccines and flu shots.

Maybe it's being overblown so people stop focusing on the governments economic failures. A distraction if you like?

I agree. I've been watching and worrying if it'll spread to countries with worse healthcare systems, and large populations. Eg: India, SouthEast Asia, and South America.

China learned from the SARS issue, so it's unlikely they will be a nation at risk.

2 people in neighboring city are suspected of having it

A few countries such as Japan are considering cutting off anyone (even their citizens) from entering their country from Mexico.

Two people in my hall of residence have just got out of quarantine. People in my University have been confirmed to have swine flu.

Scary stuff.

However my country is one of if not the most prepared country in the world for a flu pandemic (we stocked up ridiculous amounts of Tamiflu I think, which seems effective against this H1N1 strain) so really not too much risk.

has anyone seen the film 'outbreak' starring dustin hoffman and morgan freeman. A good film. has some stuff about a virus. i recommend you all go watch it.