Over the weekend, President Barack Obama declared a health emergency because of the H1N1 virus, the so-called swine flu. We can't wait for the rabid conspiracy theorists to have a field day with that.

The declaration allows the government to bypass some procedures in getting aid to the states. Other than that, it will have little impact and health authorities were quick to point out there are no radically new developments in the illness.

However, there is a massive shortage of vaccine, which is mainly targeted to younger people. You may ask why this is the case. The reason is simple. So far, during the run of this disease, many more younger people have gotten ill and younger people have gotten the most serious cases.

This is an odd statistic — at least as we are accustomed to seeing it — but it is indisputable. Thus the first vaccinations will go to mostly children, or those with critical health issues. This sounds reasonable to us, though it does mean some people are going to go without.

Actually, with only 16.5 million doses available right now, a great many people are going to do without, raising the chances that many who read this editorial may eventually get the swine flu.

The good news is the swine flu is proving really to be no worse than the "regular" flu. The bad news is that the "regular" flu is pretty crummy to live through.

The best thing we can tell you to protect yourself is what we have said from the very beginning: Wash your hands often. Unwashed hands are going to be the single biggest way this virus moves from one person to the next.

Obviously, there are other simple precautions that will help, such as staying away from people whom you know have the flu. We would advise this even if you do not know what kind of flu they have. In fact, most health officials aren't even trying to differentiate between the two types.

So far, we have seen no tremendous outbreaks in Harrison County of the flu of any sort and it could be that we will be lucky.

If you do get the flu, make sure you treat it with the respect it deserves. There is no cure, other than the one your body provides through its own defense systems. That means it is going to take some days before you feel better. You are not likely to die from the flu — though you may reach a point where you feel you must — but from complications caused by it.

Most importantly is to make sure to keep in touch with those who may be elderly and living alone, though, as we said, the elderly have not seen as many cases.

If you fall within the age groups or others that need to take the vaccination, we advise you to do so if you can find the vaccine being offered locally. It probably isn't a life or death situation, but it could certainly save you a great deal of pain.