In case of normal response of the immune system to infection the body increases lymphocytes and cytokine cell levels that are used in eliminating toxins and harmful microorganism. Lymphocytes and cytokines release is controlled by the secretion of prostaglandins close to the infection point. The prostaglandins detects the infection force and makes the body produce fluids to stop the infection spread sending chemical and electrical signals back to the regulators of immunity to invoke phagocyte cells to kill harmful microorganisms.
When swine flu virus infiltrates the body it uses the enzymes and releases proteins which affect the prostaglandin response giving sporadic signals to the centers responsible for immune responses. When this occurs, the response system gets shocked and cannot do anything. Like a blind man swinging at anything moving near him the body response mechanism is to recruit large amounts of neutrophils which convert peroxide to hydroxide ion radical or super oxygen anion radical. These are 2 most effective oxidizing agents that help to cope with infections. Such an uncontrollable production of oxidizing agents by the immunity kills the virus however it also destroys sensitive tissue of the skin and the cells in respiratory tract, lungs and other organs. If this is not timely stopped the end is death.
Vaccines are dead viruses which are used to stimulate the release of antigenic material as well as antibodies that destroy viruses blocking the virus replication. The antibodies stimulate other molecules to stop the negative effect of viruses produced on the immune response system. When the effect of viruses is halted the natural response will get back to the normal state and is able to deal with the secondary bacterial infections which are actually responsible for diseases.
However using vaccines is not the only option to halt viral expression in people. If an exaggerated body response is the actual reason for human fatality evolved by such fatal viruses as swine virus then is it impossible to block the effect of a runaway immune response by imitating the natural defense mechanisms in order to create the immune mechanism?
To put it different, there should be a possibility to introduce biological substances similar in functions, biochemical class and structure into the body. This will normalize the immune response system and prostaglandin signaling process thus preventing tissues and cells destruction; and correctly directing biochemical agents to destroy bacterial and viral invasions. The thing is that such substances are still to be found and tested.