The Mystery of Swine Flu

Since the Leading Edge Forum published last summer in Cell some time has passed. Back then it was considered obvious that the number of severe illnesses or deaths linked to this specific virus strain did not necessarily lead to the assumption H1N1 could be worlds next pandemic. 6 months later not much has changed. A constant hiss of imminent danger accompanies most news broadcasts covering swine flu and people are waiting in lines to get vaccinated. Fact is, H1N1 viruses are circulating constantly in human population since the ‘70s and are a component of standard annual influenza vaccines. No molecular markers of pathogenicity have been discovered in the current flavor (H1N1 swine influenza) yet. One might even add that most of the deaths resulting from infection with Spanish flu in 1918 were caused by secondary bacterial pneumonia, a complication we would be able to tackle, considering we live in the era of antibiotics and antiviral medication.