Swine Flu

While the global swine flu epidemic appears to have fallen off the front pages of most newspapers in the northern hemisphere, the disease is rapidly making its way through the Australian population. At present, there are 254 cases confirmed in Australia and thousands have been quarantined. Both numbers are rising by the hour as the disease continues to pop up just about everywhere, although Melbourne has been ground zero for most of the victims. A number of schools have closed, cruise ships have been asked to remain at sea, and doctor's offices are overflowing as anxious cold-sufferers seek medical advice (it doesn't help that swine flu rocked up in Australia during the regular flu season). One alarmist has estimated that a full 20% of the Australian population could be affected before its all over.