In Mexico, around 2000 patients have been hospitalised with respiratory illness and almost 150 people have died. Several other countries have reported smaller numbers of suspected and confirmed cases of swine influenza.

This 2009 influenza A virus is a strain of the H1N1 subtype, and appears to be a human–avian reassortment swine virus influenza.

It is likely that sustained human-to-human transmission of swine influenza has occurred, at least in Mexico.

Despite there being so many hospitalised patients in Mexico, cases outside Mexico have demonstrated a mild influenza-like illness, with only one fatality to date.

In contrast to the 1918 influenza pandemic, we now have a more robust public health system, with widespread global networks; vaccines can be developed rapidly; and there are antiviral medications to which the swine influenza A(H1N1) virus is sensitive.

Many resources have been invested in pandemic preparedness programs in the health care and public health systems in Australia over the past few years.