It doesn't really matter much whether this is a variation of swine flu or not. However you want to categorize it, it's one of those breakout mutations to which most of us will have no natural immunity against.
I suspect the reason it looks worse in Mexico is because that's where it first was discovered, and they have a longer period of experiencing it.
But there's no reason to believe it will preferentially kill Mexicans. The CDC has confirmed it's the same virus now being found here.
We have more access to Tamiflu and other antiviruls, but this does look pretty bad.
Agreed, and thanks for bringing up the point that they’ve been dealing with this in that area for weeks now.
I didn’t mean to imply that it will preferentially kill Mexicans (or that it will be more virulent in some ‘races’ vs. others), just that I can see how this would spread easier in some of the more rural, poorer parts of Mexico where people may be already suffering from nutritional deficiencies and don’t have access to quality health care. Not to mention that it is a common problem in poorer areas with less educated people that disease is spread more easily. (I admit I don’t know how much of a problem this is in Mexico overall nowadays (for instance Mexico City is a “modernized” city), compared to perhaps decades ago, or like what happens sometimes in the poorer regions of Africa — the spread of AIDS in those countries for instance).
Thanks again, you post makes a lot of sense regarding the “mortality” rate differences, and I will take that into account in my study of this subject from here on out. :)