Swine flu: ‘Pandemic’ is a scary word, but death tolls vary widely

NEW YORK — In the next few days, the swine flu outbreak may become the world’s first official influenza pandemic in 40 years. That won’t be welcome news, but it’s not as scary as it sounds.

Flu presents challenge to scientists: How lethal is it and why so much deadlier in Mexico?

ATLANTA — Mexico’s health secretary may have thought he was allaying fears about swine flu when he suggested that the nation’s swine flu death rate was 6 or 7 percent. In reality, that would mean a monstrous killer virus — and no experts are close to saying that. The secretary’s comment reflects how much remains unknown about the new flu virus — most notably how lethal it is and why it seems so much deadlier in Mexico than anywhere else.