With stories of the global swine flu outbreak topping all the headlines, Dr. Keri Peterson stops by to separate fact from fiction about the flu and the dangers it may pose to your family. "There's no need to panic," she tells Rachael. "But there is cause for concern, and that is because this particular virus is a new strain of influenza ... and because it is a new strain, we don't have immunity against it." She explains that this past year's flu shot will not protect you from it, but there are some precautions you can take. Get all of her tips and answers below!

What is swine flu? "It actually is a combination of a pig, bird and a human flu all in one strain," Dr. Peterson explains. "It commonly affects pigs."

Why have the cases in Mexico been so much more severe than those in the U.S. "There are a couple of schools of thought," the doctor says. "One is that the strain that is in Mexico is a little more mutated than it is here, or it may be that here we're seeing it very early and it may progress to a more severe form of the illness. Also, the access to health care may be an issue. For example, in Mexico they may be waiting too long before they go to see the doctor, whereas here in the states, they're seeing doctors much earlier."

How do I know if I have a cold or the swine flu? Dr. Peterson answers, "It's the severity of the symptoms. When you have a cold you're thinking, 'Should I go to work? Should I not go to work?' When you have the flu, you don't even want to get out of bed. You have a very high fever, you feel like you've been hit by a truck. You have severe body aches." While some of the symptoms may overlap, she says it's so much more severe with the flu and that if you had it, "you would know it."

Is it safe to be cooking and handling pork? "It is perfectly fine to handle pork, to eat pork ... there is absolutely no risk of getting the swine flu from pork," Dr. Peterson assures. "It's called the swine flu simply because it commonly affects pigs. But actually, it's transmitted the same way that you would get just the seasonal influenza virus — human to human, through breathing and respiratory droplets that are in the air from someone who's coughed or sneezed, or from touching a contaminated surface that was touched or coughed on by someone who has the virus, and then you touch it and put your hands in your mouth."

Is it safe to eat in restaurants? "It's perfectly fine to go to restaurants, there are a few precautions you can take," she says. "Wash your hands before you eat, no matter what. That means that even dipping into the bread bowl with dirty hands is a no-no. Also, use hand sanitizer if you don't have access to a sink. If you're standing and waiting for your table and someone's coughing or sneezing, you may want to distance yourself a little bit."

What's the best thing you can to do to avoid getting the flu? "All the basics when it comes to staying healthy," Dr. Peterson advises. "You should get a lot of rest, sleep a lot. Exercise regularly, eat healthily, pick nutritious foods — they boost your immune system. Don't touch your hands into your mouth, stay away from people that are sick and if you're sick yourself stay at home. And keep your hands clean; washing your hands for 20 seconds (rubbing your hands together vigorously), is the best thing you can do for yourself. And make sure you use soap."