Swine flu update: bringing home the bacon

• In 6 weeks, swine influenza A(H1N1) virus has spread from 10 to 74 countries. • Australia has the fifth highest number of cases and the third highest rate of infection among the top five affected nations. • People who are hospitalised with or die from this novel virus are more likely to have predisposing risk factors. • There is a predilection for younger age groups and sparing of older age groups. This may be a property of influenza A viruses in general rather than being specific to swine influenza A. • If unchecked, the sheer number of cases may lead to much higher numbers of deaths and hospitalised patients than would normally be attributed to a standard influenza season. • Paradoxically, the low case-fatality rate of the virus raises the question of how best to approach management of this outbreak. • It is uncertain how an expected vaccine against the novel virus MJA 2009; 191: 138–140 will be used.