Why is the swine flu 2009 (also known as the H1N1 virus) different from the seasonal flu? Below we will list some of the differences and why people should not confuse these 2 viruses with each other.

• What is the age limit ? With the seasonal flu, the ages most effected by it resulting in deaths are the elderly and extremely young. While the swine flu 2009 strain, has puzzled some doctors because most of the cases have been in the age groups of between 5 and 24 and people in their fifties or older are rarely effected.
• Since both viruses are a type of influenza, do they effect the lungs the same way? This is another thing that concerns doctors, because the H1N1 virus seems to be effecting different parts of the lungs tissue that are more important in the oxygen carbon dioxide exchange and are located deeper into the lungs.
• What about expecting mothers? Pregnant women have been getting infected with this virus more than with the common flu virus, but this could partly be because of the age group difference mentioned earlier.
• What about the fatality rate? The fatality rate of the H1N1 virus is about the same as the seasonal flu but the big difference is the age group. Deaths from the seasonal flu are generally the elderly while the death rates from the swine flu are among the younger generations.
• Does the swine flu 2009 virus really come from pigs? Actually the swine flu virus is made up of four strains of influenza "A" virus. While 1 of these strains are native to the human body and 1 of these are endemic to birds, the other 2 come from pigs and this where the term "swine flu 2009" got its name. With the seasonal flu, the virus is made up without the 2 strains that come from pigs.

Even though pigs can carry the H1N1 virus, it is basically spread like any other virus, from person-to-person and people are not at risk catching it by eating pork as long as it is cooked properly.

In conclusion, there may be other differences not listed, but with the ones that are it is easy to see that the swine flu 2009 and the seasonal flu that we are all accustomed to are not the same and both viruses can be fatal depending on your age and your immune system.