Actually, by WHO definition it has been a pandemic for well over a month now. It is the first one since 1968.
The particular virus is very similar to the flu of 1918 in genetic make up. Minus a few protein molecules it is the same.
Every pandemic has followed a wave pattern where you get a mild outbreak in spring than a stronger one in the fall.
There is a completely unpredictable nature of a flu’s evolution but from what most credible scientists believe about the H1N1 is it is very serious and is eerily similar to 1918.
Thus far, the 2009 pandemic parallels the 1918 pandemic, which was a swine H1N1 that had moved into a human population in the spring of 1918, leading to mild cases. However, the virus turned lethal in the fall, after adapting to its human hosts, which devastating consequences, including the deaths of 20-50imillion people, which were largely in the 25-44 age group.
The increasing parallels between the pandemics of 2009 and 1918 continue to create increasing concerns.
