The flu is racing across the land, spreading coughs and sneezes and aching muscles, but also anxiety, fear and panic.

Worried parents are calling around trying to find vaccinations for their children, and long lines have formed outside clinics, schools and other places where shots and nasal mists are offered.

More than 22 million doses of H1N1 vaccine are now available, not even 10 percent of what has been ordered, and the existing doses are not always available where they are most needed.

The regular, seasonal flu is also upon us, and 85 million doses of that vaccine have been distributed.

There are many things about the H1N1 flu - the first worldwide flu in 30 years - that remain a mystery. Why, for example, does it seem to be hurting children and young adults, while the usual flu is hardest on the very young and the very old?

The mystery, compounded by bad information and occasional outbreaks of hysteria, is driving up the anxiety and sending more people to doctors and hospital emergency rooms than need to go.

All of us need to take a deep breath (with covered mouths, of course), and remember that most people who get the flu do just fine after a few days at home, and they survive with no lasting damage.

Some people have become very ill, and some have died, but about as many Americans will die this week from breast cancer as have died this fall from H1N1.

The inspiring thing is how health professionals, industry, government and average people around the world have come together to raise awareness of the flu so quickly. Have you ever seen so many hand sanitizers? A good clearinghouse for information is www.flu.gov. Closer to home, the state of Georgia's Department of Community Health has launched an online H1N1 Influenza Vaccine Provider Locator. Just go to www.health.state.ga.us./h1n1flu, type in your zip code and you'll instantly be provided with a list of nearby vaccine providers.

The battle is joined against a common enemy.

We can beat this thing.