Public health officials were quickly led to Mexico, where the infected students had recently traveled to the beaches of Cancun. There, we discovered significant illness, and the images of everyday people wearing surgical masks on the streets of Mexico City appeared in print and electronic media.
On April 24, the World Health Organization mentioned influenzalike illness in the United States and Mexico on its "disease outbreaks by year" section.
Five days later, with 148 documented swine-flu infections in nine countries, WHO raised its pandemic alert phase to 5, indicating widespread, sustained human infection. At that time, with the U.S. public now fully focused on swine flu, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted 91 cases in 10 states, with more than half among the original group of New York students.
Stories have focused on viral transmission, treatment, prevention, preparedness, and panic. Questions from the public and the media have been dizzying, ranging from the intensely scientific to the seemingly obvious.
Can you get this from eating cooked pork? No.
Can my pets get this? No.
Should I hold my wedding in Cancun in September as planned? It's too soon to know; follow travel-advisory information from the CDC closer to the event.
Will there be a vaccine? Work is under way to make a safe and effective vaccine that hopefully will be available by next flu season.
Is there enough medication? For those who may truly need it, yes, but most infected persons in the United States have not required intensive medical intervention.
What should I do to protect myself and my family? Make sure you wash your hands, cover your cough, and stay home if you are sick.
