The main problem with this flu is that while it isn't any more lethal than other flu strains it is highly contagious, being twice as likely to be spread as previous flu. It simply becomes a numbers game, and when the numbers get large even small percentages become large populations of patients potentially hitting the hospitals.

Two seasons ago the regular flu taxed our particular facility to the limit, due to large numbers of flu patients and many ill staff members. If we see a large number of hospitalized patients from swine flu, it will hit the hospitals very hard, and limit our ability to care for other patients. I don't think most people realize how close to the limit most hospitals run at on a regular basis.