I think the numbers of cases are being severely under diagnosed. We have a friend in California who's child was taken to the ER with every symptom of Swine Flu, yet they still would not do the swab test to verify. We have a several friends take their kids in to get tested due to fevers, etc, and those medical professionals would not test them either.
Sending kids home from school when they have a fever, and keeping them home 48 hrs after the fever has subsided is all fine and dandy. Except, the swine flu can be spread for 48 hrs before symptoms appear, and the virus can continue to be shed 10 days after the symptoms are gone.
I agree, there is no need to panic, but people should not just ignore it. Vigilantly washing hands is a good start, but that will not just stop this thing from spreading. It is pretty good timing for this to be spreading since schools will be releasing for the summer, and the large congregations of kids in buildings will be reduced. Who catches the flu can not be stereotyped, but if you look at the states where it is most prevalent, it is also the states that have the greatest traffic of people from Mexico, legally or illegally. Our area is very high.