Is the current H1N1 flu strain the same as the strains from 1918 or 1976?
No, the current H1N1 flu virus is a new virus, different from the 1918 pandemic flu strain that was so deadly. It’s too soon to draw any definitive conclusions about what this variation of the virus will do but it appears to be acting more like a seasonal flu. Persons at high risk of illness and complications, as well as those with cancer, with weakened immune systems, or with HIV infection may be at higher risk for severe illness due to H1N1 flu. The viruses detected in the U.S. in April 2009 are different from the H1N1 flu virus that caused an outbreak in 1976. Most genetic parts of these viruses are similar to other H1N1 viruses from North America and Europe.
