When news of the Swine Flu/H1N1 first broke, I got that sickening feeling in my stomach.  I immediately thought of the day I interviewed an infectious disease specialist in Sioux Falls several years ago.  He told me, it's not a matter of if a pandemic flu outbreak happens, it's a matter of when.  Those who know me best, will tell you that I'm a self-professed hypchondriac. A headache brings up suspicions of a brain tumor, a sore muscle could be a blood clot. You get the picture. So when talk of a potential flu pandemic, appeared to be a very real possibility, I started fearing for those I love most. I was especially concerned about the elderly and the very young in my family. Since my fiance' and I are planning a trip to Europe for our honeymoon, I also started envisioning travel restrictions that would keep us from making the trip.

Thankfully, the reality of the situation has not lived up to my over-reaction. I've heard our state and local health experts say that this flu is presenting itself much as a seasonal strain, and that it is very manageable.  I have also been relieved to learn that most people who catch this flu from their families, find they have fewer symptoms than those who were originally exposed.  A news release from the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention seems to underscore this point.  Just today, experts have decided that even if a confirmed case of the flu turns up in a school or daycare center, the facility does not have to close its doors.

While it's likely that more cases will still turn up here and there, at this point, it seems the worst might be over.  Even Mexico is calling for a return to normalcy today.  In the end, I think the many precautions and plans that were put into place were well-worth the effort.  Hopefully, it was a learning process for all involved, and has left us better-prepared for any other strain that might rear its ugly head in the years to come.