Don't be fooled by its goofy-sounding name - Planet Earth's newest health scare, swine flu, is nothing to crack a joke about.

The swine influenza virus struck Ohio Sunday. A 9-year-old Lorain County resident who had just arrived home from a trip to Mexico came down with the influenza April 26.

The next day, April 27, federal health officials declared a national public health emergency.

According to the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as of April 29, there were 91 confirmed cases of swine flu in the United States, only one of them fatal.

Infections have also sprung up in Europe, Asia, South America and Australia, causing the World Health Organization to suggest the emergence of a global pandemic April 29.

Swine influenza A, or H1N1 virus, is "a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses that cause regular outbreaks in pigs," according to the CDC. However, humans can be affected, exhibiting symptoms such as fever, coughing, nausea and lack of appetite.

"So far, it just seems to be acting like any seasonal flu," said Gregory Calkins, medical director of Miami University's Student Health Services.

Calkins said the danger in swine flu is its contagiousness.

"(Swine flu) may be more difficult to contain since it travels more easily from person to person," Calkin said.

While no cases of the H1N1 virus have been recorded at Miami, Student Health Services has a procedure to help contain and combat the illness.

"We would probably send the student home to be treated, if that's feasible," Calkins said. "We would then inform concerned parties about the situation."

While antibiotics may help, Ohio Department of Health spokesman Kristopher Weiss said the easiest way to defeat swine flu is to avoid it all together. Washing hands, steering clear of people exhibiting suspicious symptoms and avoiding touching your face are just a few of the precautions people can take, Weiss said.

"Take no chances when it comes to personal hygiene," Weiss said. "Use the same strategies you would take when dealing with other respiratory illnesses."

He also suggested people pay attention to information as it becomes available to stay updated.

"It's an evolving, unpredictable situation," Weiss said.