The severity and mortality rate (IMR) of any new/novel influenza virus is dependent on: (1) its ability to spread in human populations; (2) its unique pathogenicity; and (3) the presence of existing immunity  from prior influenza viruses or prior influenza vaccines. The intense media coverage of the 2009 pandemic led to huge increases in reporting of influenza cases.  Valid estimates of the numbers of infections, “cases”, hospitalizations, and deaths require viral testing of reliable samples of the entire clinical spectrum of all influenza infections.  In addition to more children seeking medical care because of media-hype regarding the “killer” flu, there also may have been a lower clinical criteria for hospitalization of children rather than an increased severity of the 2009 H1N1 virus..