It’s such a permanent aspect of life now that the military is planning for a possible outbreak of the flu in the fall. According to CNN Pentagon Correspondent Barbara Starr, the military wants to “establish regional teams of military personnel to assist civilian authorities.”

In April, a vaccine for the swine flu began to be developed after discovering that the vaccine that had already been developed was for H5N1, a strain of the bird flu.

With its recent development, the U.S. is now developing guidelines for who should receive the vaccination.

Reuters suggests that health care workers, pregnant women and patients with asthma and diabetes will probably be most recommended for the H1N1 swine flu vaccine. The vaccine has been purchased by countries all over the world and will hopefully minimize any potential outbreaks in the future.

As for the military’s “plan”: it remains unknown. The proposal is waiting for approval from Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

With the death toll rising, the H1N1 swine flu strain is unfortunately not a joke. We can’t predict the severity of the next flu season, but we can rest assured knowing the necessary steps for prevention are being taken.

I’m talking about reasons I haven’t been afraid of the swine flu since word first broke out — no pun intended — about the virus several months ago. But according to a recent report from the Associated Press, maybe I’m wrong to keep my worries at bay.

The AP reported that in the latest projection, health officials have said up to 40 percent of Americans could contract the swine flu virus this year and next. That’s almost half of the entire U.S. population, which is now well above three million. Now that’s a disturbing prediction.

The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control report that the virus has killed around 300 Americans so far, with about 1 million actually having become sick from it. Many have simply come down with a “mild case of the swine flu.”

I really don’t know what to think, honestly, even at this point. I just keep thinking back to a few years ago when all the news reports kept saying we would all — as in the entire planet — die from the bird flu. I can still picture all those people wearing ghastly white face masks and blue suits medical suits. I was scared about that so-called pandemic then, but all that noise died down rather quickly, with very few deaths, especially in the U.S., at all.

I’m wondering (rather hoping) if this swine flu will be the same.

Last week, Friday, we discovered that the swine flu had spread to New York City, where, according to an AP report, lead to the closing of three schools there and a very sick assistant principal who had to be hospitalized.

Not even a week later, the assistant principal died from the swine flu.

Hundreds of students were sent home sick in Queens, New York, while maintenance workers sprayed the schools down with disinfectants.

Also last week, in an AP report, a woman in Arizona was confirmed as the fourth person in the nation to die from the swine flu.

Keep in mind, this is all just last week.

New government reports indicate that at least 100,000 cases of the swine flu currently exist in the U.S. And in a report from the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control say that there have been at least 5,400 “confirmed and probable” swine flu cases, 200 persons that have been hospitalized and at least six deaths in the U.S. that have resulted from it.

And finally, the latest and greatest breaking news on the swine flu front is that CDC researchers believe that this current strain of the swine flu has been circulating for at least the last 10 years. They’re calling for intense future monitoring of pig populations and this new viral infection strain.

Final statistics as of today: As reported by the World Health Organization, the swine flu has caused a total of 11,000 people to become sick in 41 countries and has lead to the deaths of at least 85 people the world over.

There are people on both sides of this worldwide news story. Some say the swine flu is not big deal, just another branch of the common flu. They argue that 85 deaths in a world with more than six billion people isn’t something to worry about. Others point back to the flu epidemic that struck less than a century ago that killed an estimated 50 million people, that so-called “common flu” that shares many of the same flu symptoms as the swine flu.

Could the swine flu ever reach such proportions? At this point, it doesn’t seem as if anyone has that answer.

In a story by Rueters, Singapore’s National University Hospital’s Division of Microbiology, says that as many as 20,000 viruses are expelled by an average cough….that’s just on average.

Also in an average cough, there are about 3,000 droplets that measure between one and three micrometers in diameter. (A micrometer is one millionth of a meter.) These teeny tiny droplets stay in the air for “considerable amounts of time,” which gives other people ample time to get all the goodies floating around.

This “news” was released to make sure that people cover their mouths, especially in the midst of the swine flu epidemic.

Throughout the world, countries are developing advertisements to encourage personal hygiene. That probably wouldn’t fly so well in America, but maybe we could all do our part in keeping our germs to ourselves.

Three words: Cover. Your. Mouth.

According to Fox News, a farm worker back from Mexico is the apparent cause. Fox also reported that the farm has been quarantined, no pigs have died and the worker has fully recovered.

Okay, so pigs have finally gotten “their” virus, but what does this mean to the growing worldwide concern besides dumping more fuel into the blazing fire?

Maybe the broadcast channels, radio stations and Internet news providers should be focusing on such facts as the chance of a pig to human transfer of the virus is highly unlikely. Also, whether or not pork is infected, if properly cooked, no risk is posed to humans.

So what does a story blaring a headline that promotes more worry about a virus that shares symptoms with the common flu really have to contribute? Certainly a cause for concern exists with this new virus as it has made its way overseas, but is this story as big a deal as the media make it out to be? Or is this pork story just a little overcooked?

The virus is spread through human to human contact, no swine need be touched, as its name suggests. The best way to avoid contracting the virus is through prevention. Here are some of the most effective:

1. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds, frequently throughout the day.
2. When water isn’t available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
3. Make sure to cover your nose and mouth if you sneeze or cough.
4. If you do come into contact with a sufferer, limit your exposure.
5. Increasing vitamin C intake has proven effective against colds and the flu.
6. To maintain a healthy immune system, eat a healthy, balanced diet and get a good night’s sleep.
7. If you have children, stress hand washing and covering their noses and mouths when they sneeze or cough.
8. Routinely disinfect counters and surfaces at home and at work.
9. If you experience any flu symptoms, stay home and do not go to work.
10. If you experience any flu symptoms, see your doctor immediately.