The mild prevalence of H1N1 flu strain in the Northern Hemisphere this season grabbed less media attention unlike last year. Though, the swine flu menace has been declared in September to have ended, it is still circulating in the form of milder influenza strains, which could prove fatal.

Normal flu can also be deadly if not treated on time and every year between 250,000 and 500,000 people succumb to it. It is no less harmful than swine flu, which took life of around 18,000 people across the globe last year.

As per Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organization, flu is unpredictable and brings surprises.

In Britain and Ireland, the flu cases surged 40% in the past week and 36 people fell prey to flu strains. The seasonal flu is commonly known to affect weak, elderly and very young people, but H1N1 has its toll on toddlers under the age of five. The situation is grim in Britain as less people have taken up flu vaccination. People are being urged to get themselves vaccinated against flu. They have also been motivated for the same by advertising campaigns.

Influenza cases have been found in 13 European countries such as Sweden, France and Russia and most of the incidents are of H1N1 flu.

In America, there are few cases of flu than Britain and New York is the most affected. Canada has more cases of H3N2 influenza, which is a seasonal flu strain and its southern Ontario and the Prairies are hit hard by flu.