The H1N1 flu being widely covered by the international media is currently responsible for the 2009 flu pandemic. Pre-existing flu vaccines have shown to offer no protection or immunity against the virus. A study which was concluded in 2009 by the CDC in the United States determined that young children had no immunity to the virus, whereas adults over the age of 60 had some immunity.

Currently, there is no cause for alarm if one contracts the H1N1 virus, as the mortality rate has been a tiny fraction of the mortality rate of the standard seasonal flu. The Swine Flu is composed of five seperate flu strains from around the world: The North American swine flu, North American avian flu, human flu, and two swine flu viruses typically found in Asia and Europe.

The most critical aspect to note is that the H1N1 flu is highly unlikely to cause severe symptons in people. Should you believe that you've contracted H1N1, stay home, get lots of rest, and monitor your body temperature.

It is important to note that the H1N1 virus is contageous, and will spread for human to human the same way the seasonal flu will.  If a family member developes flu symptoms, it is wise to follow standard procedure:  Don't share any beverages, use the same utensils, or participate in sexual activity for the duraction of their symptoms.  The H1N1 virus is contracted via sneezing, coughing, and skin-contact, followed by placing ones hands near or in one's face or mouth.

The H1N1 virus is more contageous than season flu, and continues to be contageous for much longer than the seasonal flu.  The United States CDC indicates that one should wait a minimum of 24 hours after symptoms conclude before resuming normal activities.  If you are experiencing flu-like symptoms, take extra care to avoid leaving your home or place of residence.  Do not feel obligated to go to work, as this greatly increases the potential to spread the H1N1 virus.

The most effective way to prevent the spread of disease and viruses is simple: Wash your hands. Washing your hands is something that you should be doing anyway. Scrubbing anti-bacterial soap for a good ten to twenty seconds, ensuring to get underneath each fingernail, followed by a good rinse under warm to hot water will do more to protect you from the H1N1 flu than anything else (short of a vaccination with the new H1N1 vaccines). If you do not plan on getting vaccinated, then washing your hands will be your only defense against getting sick.

If you share a home with someone who hsa flu-like symptoms, washing your hands becomes even more important, as any surface they have come into contact with has the potential to spread the virus to you. It is important of course to treat anyone suffering from flu symptoms like you would always treat them, and it's certainly in everyones best interest to offer any help to those suffering from the flu - no one likes being sick! 

Remember:  H1N1 flu symptoms are typically mild and much like the standard seasonal flu, and those suffering from H1N1 recover quickly.  The number of deaths related to H1N1 is a tiny fraction compared to deaths caused by the regular seasonal flu.  Panicking is completely unneccesary and will do more harm than good.  Simply take the standard precausions to prevent yourself from becoming sick...

WASH THOSE HANDS!

It's not that bad at all, really. In the United States, 522 people have died from the H1N1 virus. The regular seasonal flu kills 800 people per week. Those who have died from the H1N1 virus have by-and-large had underlying medical problems. Healthy people with good immune systems should be more worried about those crazy people that might run a red light and collide with your car.

While there may be a significan amount of panic surrounding the H1N1 virus, it is imporant to remember that for the most part, it's a drop in the ocean compared to seasonal flu. Wash your hands, and sneeze and cough into your arm, not your hand. Don't put your hands in or near your mouth or nose, and wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands!

Unlike the seasonal flu, H1N1 swine flu infects cells deep within the lungs. Some patients suffer from severe respiratory problems.  Initial research has indicated that severity of respiratory symptons could be linked to genetic variation in immune systems. 

 The answer to this question is not, Mexican H1N1 is not deadlier.  Infact, Canada's Microbiology Laboratory studied H1N1 cases from Ontario, Nova Scotia and Mexico, and found that all three had the same sequencing, ruling out genetic explanations for greater severity of cases in Mexico.  Travel in Mexico should be done carefully however, as the cases of H1N1 in Mexico are believed to be of greater severity.  It is wise to recieve the new H1N1 vaccination before international travel.  While travelling, remember the golden rule:  Wash your hands.

Many authorities weren't happy with the media's "swine flu" name for H1N1, as they believed it would make people believe eating pork is unsafe. As a result of exhaustive campaigning, the media in North America now widely refers to the virus as H1N1. In the Netherlands, the virus was originally called "pig flu", but is now called "Mexican flu" by the national health institute. South Korea and Israel briefly called the virus "Mexican virus". Later, the South Korean press coined the term "SI" for "swine influenza". Taiwan suggested the names "H1N1 flu" or "new flu", which has been mostly adopted by local media.

In short, pork that has been cocked properly is 100% safe to eat.