Celebrities, they're just like us: Some of them get swine flu, and all the rest are freaking out with psychosomatic symptoms. (Seriously: I've got a mild cough right now, and I'm ready to make out my will.) Just today, it was reported -- then retracted -- that Teri Hatcher had come down with the fast-moving flu, so we thought it was time to sift through all the rumors and hospitalizations to answer two important questions: Who in Hollywood has had the swine flu, and who was merely rumored to?
WHO'S HAD IT:
Celebrity: Rupert Grint
Famous For: Playing sidekick Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter film franchise
Diagnosed: Late June
Public Statement: "It was quite scary when I first found out I had swine flu," Grint told reporters at a press conference for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince in London. "I thought, 'Am I going to die?' But it was just like any other flu, really."
Celebrity: Dr. Sanjay Gupta
Famous For: Acting as CNN's chief medical correspondent, turning down President Obama's overture to become Surgeon General
Diagnosed: Mid-September
Public Statement: "It started as a cough," Gupta wrote in his blog, entitled "I Went to Afghanistan and All I Got Was H1N1." He continued: "This was the kind of cough that hurts when you do it. A stinging pain that makes you wince and guard and hope that you don't have to cough again any time soon...I woke up in my dusty desert tent and tried to step out of my sleeping bag. Two steps later, I almost hit the deck...I was lightheaded and freezing cold - even though it was over 100 degrees outside at that early hour of the morning."
Celebrity: Brian Littrell
Famous For: Being a member of the Backstreet Boys
Diagnosed: Early October
Public Statement: "We were really looking forward to spending time with our closest fans and friends in NYC," said Littrell, who was diagnosed mere days before the release of the band's new album, which forced the cancellation of several promotional activities. "I hope we can come back soon and do everything we can to help."
Celebrity: Melissa Rycroft
Famous For: Winning The Bachelor yet having her engagement rescinded in a scandalous After the Rose ceremony, then finishing third on Dancing with the Stars.
Diagnosed: Mid-October
Public Statement: "Like most people who become infected, I thought I had a mild case of the common flu, but when my symptoms exacerbated, I immediately went to the hospital where I was diagnosed with H1N1 and given the proper medications to cure the infection," Rycroft told Us. "I want to stress to people how easy it is to battle this flu when you take the proper steps such as seeking the care of a doctor. I'm a clear case that by paying diligent attention to your health, it's easy to overcome this illness and be healthy again."
WHO WAS RUMORED TO HAVE IT:
Celebrity: Teri Hatcher
Famous For: Acting on the ABC drama Desperate Housewives
Misdiagnosed By: TV Guide, which reported that Hatcher had informed Housewives producers that she had the ailment.
Public Statement: "Teri does not have swine flu, nor did she at any time suspect that she did," Hatcher's rep quickly replied. "She is sick and has laryngitis, but has already finished her work for the week and is not scheduled to work again until next week."
Celebrity: Miley Cyrus
Famous For: Using Hannah Montana as a launchpad into teen superstardom
Misdiagnosed By: Hannah costar Cody Linley, who explained an incident where Cyrus had to cut short a concert thusly: "She said she felt really bad, she just didn't understand what was happening, but she just got really sick and had to run offstage because things were just, like, on her heart, too heavy. Then the next day she told me she had the swine flu."
Public Statement: "Miley never had the swine flu, doesn't have the swine flu, is not sick and has a concert tonight," responded her rep.
Celebrity: David Boreanaz
Famous For: Acting on the Fox crime dramedy Bones
Misdiagnosed By: Bones showrunner Hart Hanson, who Tweeted: "First time in Bones history we are shut down from production. Damn swine flu! That's gonna cut into Christmas hiatus."
Public Statement: "Oops! There is no indication that Boreanaz has swine flu," Hanson was forced to Tweet an hour later. "We expect him back tomorrow. I'm now going out to get swine flu myself in atonement."