The H1N1 flu, which surfaced in April 2009—and was blamed for at least 18,449 deaths worldwide—shut down schools, led some countries to quarantine travelers, drove the Obama administration to fast-track a vaccine program that struggled to meet panic-driven demand, and literally changed the way Americans reacted to a simple sneeze and a cough.
What a difference a year makes.
In August, the World Health Organization declared H1N1 no longer a pandemic, and a record supply of an all-in-one vaccine that promises protection against H1N1 plus two other influenza strains is ready, which made much of the public dismiss any thoughts of the virus.
WHO Director General Margaret Chan said the organization's emergency committee of top flu experts advised her that the pandemic had "largely run its course," and was going to drop to normal seasonal levels.
...