How rare is H1N1?

Answer 1

Not any more, it has reached pandemic status, meaning it has spread all over the world now. The number of actual cases is unknown since many cases go unreported and have mild symptoms that are treated at home. However, as the pandemic was spreading it was noted that approximately 6% of the population of a community in which the virus was causing an outbreak would get the disease. That has seemed to hold true as an approximation of the numbers of cases through the world as it has spread. The public health officials from the US have predicted that over the course of the next two years, approximately 40 to 50% of the US population will have had the infection.

Answer 2

No, influenza does not cause any chronic disorders as far as it is known. The flu is an acute viral infection that runs a normal course of infection and then is "conquered" by your immune system. There can be secondary infections, like pneumonia, in severe cases, but it is also an acute and not chronic condition. An example of a chronic viral disease is Hepatitis C.

Answer 3

The H1N1 virus is quite rare, although the media would like us to think it's widespread, only about 1% of all animals have it (including humans)

Answer 4

Yes. Swine Flu (A-H1N1/09 Influenza) is a viral disease caused by the Influenza Type A Virus.