Since the swine flu virus appeared in the U.S. last April, cases have surged, especially after schools opened in the fall. Although a school is a breeding ground for such easily spread viruses, rumors of the case spread just as fast. If any, the number of cases at Freedom is small. How serious is swine flu? Should students be worried for their health after the World Health Organization declared swine flu to be a pandemic? One main concern is how to know the difference between H1N1 and the seasonal flu. "The swine flu is dangerous because it attacks the respiratory system," said Karen Mayo, Nurse Practitioner, "and causes pneumonia in the lungs." However, according to the Mayo Clinic, all other symptoms of the swine flu are the same as those of the seasonal flu. Justifiably, the swine flu pandemic is becoming frightening to some, but the seasonal flu has actually killed more people this past year than the H1N1 swine flu has. The swine flu is not the usual variant of the flu, so no one has a natural immunity to this new line of evolution. If infected, Mayo recommends staying home, calling a physician, and drinking lots of fluids. There are currently three antiviral drugs that can be used to treat swine flu; however, in most cases, a person will fully recover without any treatment. If any student or teacher is interested in receiving a vaccination for the swine flu, visit www.flu.gov. This site will locate all H1N1 vaccine locations in Pennsylvania. Supplies are currently low, but two different types of vaccinations are available. A nasal mist is the easier of the two; however, because this mist is a live virus, it should not be used by anyone with a compromised immune system or immune suppression. The other type of vaccination is an injection. The U.S. government has declared swine flu to be a public health emergency, and the World Health Organization considers the virus a global emergency. Although it remains to be seen how severe the H1N1 swine flu will become, the U.S. is monitoring the situation vigilantly and is preparing for the worst. In the meantime, the best precaution is to wash your hands and keep your drinks to yourself.