Swine Flu Could Infect Half of U.S.

I'm sure that Rahm Emanuel will look upon this, too, as the kind of crisis the Obama administration won't want to waste...

While the seasonal flu is associated with 30,000 to 40,000 deaths and 200,000 hospitalizations each year, the lack of immunity to the swine flu virus probably will lead to many more people becoming infected, sick -- and possibly to 30,000 to 90,000 deaths, the council said. And while most deaths during a typical flu season occur in the elderly, swine flu is more likely to kill children and young adults, the panel said.

OR: Lipsitch stressed that the outbreak could turn out to be milder, too.