When pigs fly

Umm, ok...

No reason to panic. First, these non-human flu viruses are rarely jumping to humans and don't seem to convert to easily transmissible with casual contact. They are self-limiting. You are in more danger from the seasonal flu, for which you ought to have the vaccine.

This first round seems to model that 2k or so in U.S. will get sick enough to call a doc, will have it for about 7 days and vast majority of will go on with their lives with no sequelae. About 300 million will go on to say "what the hell was all the fuss about?"

Look for round two in the fall when it could become more virulent. I hope then everyone is planning to get the vaccine as soon as it is available, especially if you are between ages 2 and 50 and healthy and more likely to have a cytokine storm (an overreacting immune system) to this non-endemic strain.

No big deal right now, particularly since epidemiologists and officials that can do something about it are taking it very seriously. Buy a box of kleenex, wash your hands a lot, don't touch your face without cleaning your hands well first, sleep, excercise and stock some chicken soup if you are worried. If you do get sick with something other than a sniffle, call your doc and get some Tamiflu or Relenza. If you know you absolutely have more long-term contact (family member, school mate, roommate) with a confirmed case, call your doc.

Move along, citizens.