Pandemic

You can see the data for yourself here (choose influenza from the list and generate the report). Swine flu figures are from the Department of Health.

Below are some links to more coverage around the world after the WHO declared a global swine flu pandemic. It’s the first pandemic in more than 40 years.

We’re only at the start of winter so this year could, at the rate we’re going, end up being bigger than 2007 in terms of total confirmed flu cases. Swine flu cases are being confirmed rapidly, sometimes at a rate of over 100 a day, so it won’t be long before that red bar starts to draw level with previous years. But the graph gives some context to the spread of the flu so far when compared to the very bad years. And remember, this is notified cases - if you had a flu and treated it with some aspirin and a lie-down, your case won’t be in there.

So what do we do now? Is it time to panic? I know some people have died from it but it feels much more like a pandemic of runny noses. Share your thoughts in the comments.