People need to calm the fuck down and stop getting buck about swine flu.  Do some research before you get hella extra with your overly (and potentially detrimental) precautions.  BLEHCK no attempt on my part to even articulate this well because I’m too frustrated.  Okay let me try again.

The flu is an RNA virus that mutates quickly (because of RNA polymerase).  This is common.  Mutations are natural!  The reason A/51N1 is different is because it’s a recombinant virus that has combined the RNA of avian, swine, and human influenzas.  It is referred to as swine flu because pigs are essentially the pool in which the recombination occurred (interestingly, this swine flu is not very contagious for pigs, but is contagious among humans).  It has not yet been found to be transmitted through consumption of pork.  It is transmitted just like the “regular” flu–water droplets.  Advice to wash your hands, avoid face-touching, and general hygiene should not be shrugged off–these are effective protective measures.  Tamiflu is the treatment, seek a prescription if you feel flu-like symptoms.  Fatality is highly unlikely (as the virus has likely mutated to improve its reproductive chances by reducing host fatality yet increasing virulence).

Done.  Now stop yelling about how this madness is disruptive.  Channel that instead into compasion for countries wherein they lack Purell and stocked pharmacies.