As any American who reads or watches television knows, swine flu didn’t quite result in the worldwide pandemic that many expected. Nevada has seen only four swine flu-related deaths since the outbreak began a few months ago, and most of the state’s residents have relaxed. In other words, a flu-related apocalypse no longer seems likely.

However, scientists are still working diligently to create a vaccine for the virulent flu strain. The U.S. government recently announced that it would be conducting clinical trials of the vaccine, which would require up to 1,000 test subjects in order to be studied accurately.

Though the swine flu has caused more than 300 deaths in the United States since panic over the virus began earlier this year, influenza itself causes 36,000 deaths in America per year. Researchers worry that the swine flu could affect millions of people in the United States, moreso than influenza, if a vaccine is not released soon.

By Caitlin McGarry