• The H1N1 swine flu has caused over 6,000 deaths worldwide and has contributed to many more pneumonia and influenza-related deaths, but these are not laboratory-confirmed.
  
• Swine flu has shown the ability to infect deep in the lungs, causing severe damage that is on par with avian flu. This is referred to as acute respiratory distress syndrome. The H1N1 flu is 100 times more effective at replicating in the lungs than seasonal flu.
• The swine flu is expected to infect as much as 30% of the population.  The mortality rate appears to be hovering in the 1% range, but the infection rate might be lower than expected, which is a good thing.
  
• The swine flu has killed more children since August 30th than most influenza seasons do during an entire year.
  
• This pandemic is just beginning, even in the Southern Hemisphere. In past pandemics, countries like Brazil saw their peak at the same time as the Northern Hemisphere. The mechanics behind this are unknown.
• People are dying more quickly than they were earlier. It is not uncommon to see healthy people die within 24 or 48 hours of catching the virus.
• The flu is becoming Tamiflu resistant through the H274Y mutation.
  
• There are genetic signs of mutation and clinical signs of possible widespread mutation, both of which make the virus more deadly.  The PB2 mutation that allows the flu to replicate at colder temperatures and therefore deliver a higher viral load is evidence of this.
  

Here are some essential tips that'll help you prepare yourself for a swine flu outbreak in your community.  These are general preparation tips and will help you weather not only swine flu, but any other pandemic or disaster, including hurricanes and earthquakes.

The first thing you need to realize is that the flu can cause severe disease and large clusters of deaths.  This can lead to panic or the loss of utilities of a lot of maintenance people are out sick or unable to work because they have to care for their loved ones.  This situation is generally unlikely, but possible and is almost guaranteed to happen to some extent during this flu season.  It's important to note that it might not be entirely evident that the swine flu is the culprit, but imagine you lose your power during an ice storm and the maintenance crew is only running at 70%.  That'll cause a significant increase in the time spent in the dark.

Here are some of the best ways to prepare for the flu:

• Stockpile enough water to last at least 4 weeks.  Water is an essential nutrient and it is impossible to live without it.  This is absolutely the most important thing and will be in great demand if your community loses water or electricity for an extended period of time.  Filtration devices are also effective if you live near a stream or similar.  This can be supplemented if you can master the distillation process, but just make sure to add minerals since distilled water isn't good for you.
• Food is almost as important as water, but you can go a longer period without food than you can without water.  I recommend at least 4 weeks of food that can be prepared without electricity or refrigeration.  My two favorite foods are tuna fish and peanut butter, but cereal is another good choice.  If you have a wood or coal furnace, you should still be able to cook your food.
• If you live in a warm climate, a garden is a good investment that'll give you additional food and a more balanced diet. 
  
• Finally, avoid people if the outbreak is community-wide and appears to cause severe illness.  There are several strains of the flu circulating and some appear more virulent than others, so watch out for signs of severe illness.  If you encounter them, then only go out when necessary and make sure to wear an N95 mask.
  

The swine flu is not really a mild illness as many try to play it off as. The flu has caused deep infection in the lungs and can kill young, healthy people. The best way to avoid this fate is to not get the flu all-together.

How To Avoid Getting The Swine Flu

As I said above, the best way to avoid a bad fate is to not get the flu. It appears, for the time being, that the flu seems to spread most effectively among young school-aged children. There have been few, if any, outbreaks in adult venues and most adult infections are because they were in contact with children. The cause of this phenomenon is unknown, but it's best to avoid areas where children congregate for the time being. I'll post updates if we start to see outbreaks in the adult community.

Masks and hand-washing provide moderate protection from the flu but they won't stop you from getting it all together. They can significantly reduce your chance of infection, however, and I recommend them to everyone, but especially people in a high-risk category.

Remember to monitor the status of the flu in your community. You can do this by checking school attendance records or by looking for news clippings relating to swine flu and your town or surrounding areas. Knowledge is the best defense against getting sick, so make sure you have plenty of it!

What To Do If You Have Swine Flu

If you've been infected, it is best to avoid people as a common courtesy. No one else wants to be sick so don't spread your disease to others. Make sure to isolate yourself and have food delivered to you if possible. Anyone in contact with you should wear a face mask and sterilize if impossible, unless they've already been infected with confirmed H1N1. Note, however, that some people have been infected with the virus twice.

Drink plenty of water. Dehydration is common in those infected with the flu due to the high fevers, vomiting, and diarrhea. Dehydration will deplete your immune system and will make you more susceptible to co-infection and will reduce your recovery time. Severe dehydration can and will also lead to death if left untreated.

The virus, while becoming resistant to Tamiflu, is still generally susceptible to it. You should try to get treatment as soon as possible if you have suspected H1N1. Remember that rapid tests are notoriously inaccurate and can return false negatives more than 50% of the time in some cases. You'll want to get multiple opinions if you continue to be sick or if your condition worsens. About 20% of severe influenza-like-illness appears to be H1N1.  Make sure to show some precaution when approaching people that may have the swine flu.

N95 Masks are recommended for health care workers, which means they are also recommended for you! Be sure to get them if you want to properly prepare for swine flu.  These are a necessary precaution if you want to avoid getting sick.

Check out this flu survival guide if you want to best prepare for the H1N1 pandemic.

Survive Swine Flu