How come people are making such a big deal of the swine flu if less than 17 have it and only one person has died from it?

The swine flu is a potentially serious influenza virus that has been declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). As of August 2009, there have been over 193,000 confirmed cases of swine flu and over 1,700 deaths reported worldwide. While it is true that the number of cases and deaths from swine flu is relatively small compared to other pandemics, such as the Spanish flu of 1918, the WHO is taking the threat of this virus seriously for a number of reasons:

1) The virus is spreading quickly. Swine flu has been reported in over 189 countries and territories around the world, and the number of cases is continuing to grow. The WHO estimates that there may be as many as 1 billion cases of swine flu worldwide by the end of 2009.

2) The virus is causing severe illness and death. While most people who get swine flu experience mild symptoms, such as fever, cough, and sore throat, some people develop more severe complications, such as pneumonia and respiratory failure. The WHO estimates that about 1% of people who get swine flu will die from the virus.

3) There is no vaccine to protect against swine flu. Unlike seasonal influenza, there is currently no vaccine available to protect people from swine flu. This means that the virus could spread unchecked, leading to a large number of cases and deaths.

4) The virus could mutate into a more dangerous form. Influenza viruses are constantly mutating, and it is possible that swine flu could mutate into a more dangerous form that is more easily transmitted or causes more severe illness.

For all of these reasons, the WHO is taking the threat of swine flu seriously. The organization has declared a global pandemic and has recommended that countries take steps to prepare for a widespread outbreak of the virus. These steps include stockpiling antiviral drugs, developing a vaccine, and educating the public about how to prevent the spread of the virus.