As Seen on GMA: Swine Flu Myths
May 28, 2009— -- Since it first caught public attention a little over a month ago, swine flu has captured numerous headlines, in addition to generating a lot of new, cautionary information for people to learn.
According to the World Health Organization, the virus has infected 13,398 people and caused 95 deaths. The WHO has stated that countries should begin preparing for a possible pandemic and this week vaccine manufacturers for the United States began receiving sample viruses from which to make a swine flu vaccine.
While swine flu has not yet had a major impact here, concerns remain over the effect the virus might have when flu season begins in earnest next fall.
It should be no surprise that a number of myths have emerged about how to avoid the virus and what all of this means.
Below we look at four common myths to help you understand what to expect from this strain of influenza virus.
According to the WHO, 95 people worldwide have died of confirmed cases of swine flu.
However, seasonal flu claimed an average of 36,000 lives annually in the 1990s, according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
While many believe that swine flu is waning and these numbers may lead people to believe that swine flu is not as bad as seasonal flu, the situation can be deceiving.
Swine flu emerged at the end of the traditional flu season. With more people spending time outdoors and schools getting out for the summer, the virus is not nearly as likely to spread as it would be during the regular flu season, which begins in the fall and typically peaks in February.
As influenza expert Dr. William Schaffner of Vanderbilt University said in an interview with ABC News:
"All that early discussion about mildness should be modified as the information has evolved," he said. "It's not a harmless infection. We anticipate that whatever it does this summer, it's likely to be a major player in the fall, and when something this new and unpredictable shows up, we are well-advised to do our best to prepare for it."
Get Your Questions Answered at the ABC News OnCall+ Swine Flu Center
Swine flu may not create a major hazard, similar to 1976, when many were worried but the virus had a relatively small impact. For that reason, the CDC will prepare a vaccine for swine flu but will monitor the virus before making the separate decision of whether to deploy it.
