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Swine flu penetrates deeper into the lungs and can inflict more damage than ordinary seasonal flu, a study claims.
It could explain why the virus is able to cause severe illness in people with no underlying health problems.
Tests in monkeys, mice and ferrets showed that swine flu thrives all over the respiratory system, including the lungs, and causes lesions instead of staying in the head as seasonal flu does.
Experts also believe swine flu is closely related to the 1918 pandemic strain, which killed up to 40million. Blood tests show many survivors seem to have immunity to swine flu.
American and Japanese researchers found that swine-origin influenza viruses were about five times more harmful than seasonal versions of the H1N1 flu strain.
Their effect on the lungs was reminiscent of H5N1 bird flu, which is almost always fatal in humans, although most swine flu victims recover.
Commenting on the research, Professor Ian Jones from the University of Reading said: "This complete analysis of the current H1N1 is what we've been waiting for. It shows that the new virus is about five times more pathogenic than seasonal H1N1 but that, nonetheless, the major outcome is recovery."
The research also confirmed that Tamiflu and other anti-viral drugs were effective against swine flu.
