The document discusses the 2009 swine flu pandemic. It describes the two main types of swine flu viruses, H1N1 and H3N2, which infect pigs, birds, and humans. The new H1N1 strain from 2009 contained genes from human, avian, and swine influenza viruses and was able to spread rapidly between people. The document also notes that there was an outbreak of a similar H1N1 virus in 1998, suggesting health officials could have better prepared for the 2009 pandemic. It provides recounts from people of different ages who experienced illness from the 2009 swine flu virus.