I got this from ~Agallochum's journal, and my father verified it to be completely correct.

"My mother, who is a doctor, sent this to me so that I would be informed. She told me to send it to everyone I know, so all day I've been helping to educate people on what will happen to them if they get the swine flu. Remember -- there is a cure, called Tamiflu, but there is only enough for about 10% of the US population, so you should all get it while you can. Here's what happens during swine flu:

Stage One has no frank symptoms, although the victim is infectious. Blood pressure shows unusual variations, and “wagon wheel” incubator cells are present in the sputum. The flu is able to be detected through blood samples, and if it's treated at this stage, there is a 98% survival rate.

Stage Two resembles the common cold, with mild symptoms such as nasal discharge, sneezing and coughing. A low-grade fever may be present. Many infected in this stage do not limit their activities; they continue to shop, travel, or work, spreading the flu. If you see a doctor during this stage, your chance of survival is 50%.

Stage Three at the start may resemble asthma, bronchitis, influenza, or mononucleosis. The cold-like symptoms of Stage Two become more severe. Chills, high fever, swollen lymph glands, dizziness, weakness, and painful urination develop. Most infected in this stage go to bed or try to see a doctor. Late in this stage, the illness becomes more like pneumonia; a few infected show delirium just before entering the fourth, terminal stage. Chances of survival are around 22% if it's treated.

Stage Four resembles pneumonia, bubonic plague and, in some cases, hemorrhagic fever. Breathing becomes difficult and there is much swelling in the face, neck and groin. Swollen areas turn purple, then black. There is much discharge of mucus, which may be bloody. Fever is extremely high, and delirium is common. The infected in this stage are immobilized in most—but not all—cases; as in the earlier stages, any caregiver will be infected unless he or she is immune. Death is usually caused by respiratory failure. At this point, there is a 0.1% survival rate.

How can I prevent this from happening to me?

Well, first and foremost, you should avoid infected regions. Mexico, the USA, Canada, East Europe, New Zealand. These are the places that have been hardest hit by this pandemic. If you live in a place with limited contact to the outside world -- ie: Madagascar -- you are nearly 100% safe and you shouldn't panic.

If you have the misfortune of living in an Outbreak Hotspot, you can take the following precautions:

1. Avoid unneccessary travel. Not only to Mexico, but to other regions of the world. We don't know exactly how far this virus has spread so far. Going to another country not only puts you at risk, but it also puts the citizens of that country at risk.

2. Avoid crowded areas. Movie theatres are a big one. Other places to avoid include concerts, shopping malls, house parties, and even doctor's offices. The reason for avoiding doctor's offices is this: if you do not already have the disease, you are almost certainly exposing yourself to it.

3. If you must leave your house, cover your face. A lot of teenagers might complain about this one, but it's really one of the best things that you can do. This virus is largely airbourne, and a face mask may effectively stop the germ particles from entering your lungs.

4. Have a Swine Flu Action Plan. Gather up all the empty beverage containers in your house and fill them with clean water. Store them in a safe place, and even freeze a few. These will be lifesavers in the event that your water becomes contaminated. You should also stock up on canned and non-perishable food products, in case the infection becomes so wide-spread in your area that stores close, or it becomes too risky to leave your house.

5. Avoid anyone who appears sick. You don't know what they have. It could be allergies, but what if it's swine flu?

Don't forget -- you get swine flu from other people, not pigs. Pork is still safe to eat.

Thanks for reading this, and pass it on to everyone you know. Utilize e-mail and social networking websites. Anything you can do to get this information out there! Prevention is the best measure against this horrible disease."

I think it will help a lot of people out if we copy and paste this into our journals.