Is the H1N1 flu pandemic going to be as widespread?
Public health officials do not know how severe the H1N1 flu outbreak will be. The initial cases of H1N1 during the spring of 2009 were comparatively mild. The CDC and other health experts are watching to see if the virus mutates into something more virulent during the fall. The severity of disease and the number of deaths caused by a pandemic virus vary greatly. The federal government estimates that the H1N1 virus could produce infection in 30-50 percent of the population this fall and winter. Of the infected population, half would seek medical attention and 20 to 40 percent would show symptoms. At present, the H1N1 virus seems milder than the past pandemic strains but the total number of people infected is producing significant illness worldwide.