H1N1 Virus 'unstoppable,' WHO Says

Here in China, the Xinjiang riots have overshadowed the H1N1 virus in the news, but fears about the virus still abound.

Just a couple days ago, local hotels put up posters with tips on how to avoid getting sick, and what to do if you do think you have the virus. Out on the streets, it isn't at all uncommon to see pedestrians wearing cotton face masks in an effort to avoid catching anything, H1N1 virus or otherwise.

While the H1N1 fears are more visible in China than in many other countries, the worries about this virus are worldwide. The World Health Organization has just called the virus "unstoppable," and is calling on drug makers to manufacture a vaccine, saying health care workers should be the first to receive it.

While H1N1 virus, otherwise known as swine flu, has not caused an alarming number of deaths worldwide, it has raised alerts because of its odd pattern of attack. While the traditional flu generally kills those who are old or have weakened immune systems, many victims of H1N1 virus were young and otherwise very healthy. It is this characteristic of the flu that has scared health professionals and caused a high level of alert from the public health community.

A new study published in the respectable scientific journal "Nature" on Monday also shed light on the virus and its pattern of targeting younger people. This H1N1 virus is apparently distantly related to the virus that caused the 1918 pandemic that killed upward of 50 million people. The Nature article showed that people who lived through the 1918 pandemic carry antibodies from that viral strain, meaning they still have some immunity against it.

This could help explain why older people, who are usually one of the most susceptible groups to flus or viruses, have not been affected by this flu the way younger people have been.

However, obesity is being reported as one of the risk factors for a severe reaction to the H1N1 virus.

Of course, everyone is looking forward to a vaccine, but if you are not a health professional, it may be unlikely that you'll get access to the vaccine in the first round. It's up to the country to determine what groups are most at risk and should get priority access to the vaccine.

Until then, it's just the same tips as always: wash you hands before you eat anything, cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze, and eat a healthy diet to keep your immunity up and stay healthy overall.

Sources: Reuters, personal experience