New-type swine influenza may become seasonal flu: virus expert

Taiwan on Friday announced three new cases of the swine flu, known formally as influenza A (H1N1) , bringing the total in the country to six, but Lai urged people not to panic when questioned by reporters on the severity of the disease.

Lai, an academician of Academia Sinica and the president of National Cheng Kung University, said there is no way to stop the spread of the H1N1 virus, but individuals should not be overly concerned because the virus' toxicity is relatively low.

The scholar suggested that the flu's mortality rate will be lower than the 0.6 percent rate seen in official statistics to date.

He noted that in the future, the H1N1 flu will return but will be dealt with as a seasonal rather than pandemic flu, meaning it follows predictable patterns and can be treated with antivirals.

The most important thing people can do to guard against the H1N1 swine flu strain is to maintain their personal hygiene, including washing their hands frequently, Lai said, and he urged those with the flu to wear a mask.

Lai, who received his doctoral degree in molecular biology from the University of California Berkeley in 1973, lectured at the University of Southern California School of Medicine until 2003, when then Academia Sinica President Lee Yuan-tseh called him home to help fight the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak.

Lai explained Friday that the H1N1 flu strain contrasts sharply with SARS, which was a brand new virus in 2003 that no one in the world knew how to cure.

"H1N1 is a flu virus we are already acquainted with," Lai said.

As of Saturday noon, Taiwan had reported six confirmed swine flu cases, with the latest case forcing an elementary school in Taipei County to suspend all classes for one week until May 29.

Health authorities said on Saturday, however, that the closing did not mean other schools would face the same fate in the future if one of their students is confirmed to have the H1N1 flu. Each school's situation will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, officials said.

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