You’ve probably been living under a rock if you haven’t heard of H1N1, also known as swine flu. This icky little virus is causing quite a stir in the news these days, and reports of rising infection rates are making most of us feel pretty panicked. So what is H1N1 and how can you keep yourself safe?

What is H1N1?
H1N1 is a strain of flu that seems to be taking the world by storm. For most people, the virus comes and goes like a normal flu, with symptoms like chills, fever, sore throat, and a nasty cough. Some people might also suffer from nausea or diarrhea. In more severe cases, infected people have been hospitalized. In a very few extreme cases, the H1N1 virus has caused people to die.

How do people get it?
The H1N1 is an airborne virus, which means you don’t have to have close contact with someone who has it to become infected. People who cough and sneeze into the air around them spray their germs onto whatever’s nearby—desks, bus windows, door knobs, and you.

Will I get “the swine”?
There’s really no way to sugar-coat it: you might get infected. But before you freak out, consider our prevention tips. It might also help you to remember that if you do get H1N1, you’ll probably be just fine. In most cases, H1N1 is totally treatable. Just take good care of yourself, and if you get infected, keep close watch over your symptoms. If you start feeling sicker, visit your doctor.

Click the titles above for info about staying healthy, what to do if you're worried about H1N1, or getting vaccinated.

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