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Just kidding. But are we in the media making too much of the swine flu, excuse me H1N1 influenza, or are we simply responding to the need for more information? Some people have been saying the media has blown this way out of proportion, and maybe that is an outcome of so many sources of news and information these days.
But when the head of the Centers for Disease Control says the swine flu is coming to the U.S. and people will die… is that media hype? When the World Health Organization ramps up it’s alert level to 5 on a scale of 6… is that media hype? When countries announce they are suspending all flights to Mexico… is that media hype? And when health officials say there is a distinct possibility of a worldwide pandemic… is that media hype?
I don’t think so. In fact I think most credible news organizations are trying to put this whole thing into perspective. This is a new strain of flu which we have no immunity to and there’s no vaccine specifically targeted at it. It can be deadly, but no more than other strains. Health officials keep saying, wash your hands, don’t cough or sneeze in anyone’s face, and for crying out loud don’t come to work if you’re sick.
So just keep listening, don’t panic, and we’ll try to bring you as much information as we can in a responsible way.
