Comments on: Is Swine Flu a real danger or just another over-hyped media circus?

By: How To Prevent Flu

How To Prevent Flu — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 20:18:06 +0000

I wouldn’t say I’m panicking about it, but I’m at least concerned. I may take a few extra precautions when it comes to hygiene. However, I won’t go into an all-out panic about it. Everything falls into place with time, so I wouldn’t say that swine flu is to become a permanent threat. Either way, though, we should probably still be careful.

By: Charles Jeter

Charles Jeter — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 00:20:13 +0000

No, I do not fear swine flu. There is always a possibility of any number of diseases as we travel throughout the world; however, we must continue to take the usual precautions recommended by the CDC, and by the travel industry. I think the press dosen’t really mean to create hysteria; however, there’s always the pressue to reveal a story first and the competition gets really crazy after that. I think they are people trying to make a living, but in a bit over-the-top fashion at times.

By: Rainer Muser

Rainer Muser — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 20:13:45 +0000

Epidemiologists must try to assesss the risk of an unknown new virus like this one. Until they are able to do that they need to take precautions just in case a problem develops. Once a serious problem has gone out of control it is more difficult to reign it in. Fortunately, this virus has so far not caused more catastrophic disease than the better known varieties of the flu virus. We can only hope that it stays that way. There was reason for caution but there was no reason for panic. Now can we go back to life as usual please.

By: Harlan Young

Harlan Young — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 06:58:38 +0000

Unfortunately, the Swine Flu media hype is just the tip of the iceberg. Anymore, in a thousand ways, the media has the citizenry brainwashed with worry and fearful victimhood. As H.L.Mencken said decades ago: “The whole purpose of practical politics [and now, also, the media] is to keep the populace alarmed, and hence clamorous to be led to safety, by menacing it with a series of hobgoblins.”

By: Len Pine

Len Pine — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 19:11:51 +0000

Tens of thousands of people die every day in car accidents, but those stories don’t sell newspapers. Governments and the media need to back off and just leave people alone. A little hygiene goes a long ways.

By: Bob E.

Bob E. — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 16:23:54 +0000

A certain amount of caution is prudent with any new disease, but the news media certainly went overboard in this case without getting proper facts and figures, and without regard to the consequences. Thousands of people were inconvenienced because of what was broadcast, and many others hurt irrevocably financially. More people die worldwide from all other flu strains than died from the A/H1N1 Swine Flu. Before starting a panic, know what you are talking about. I am tired of hearing the media crying “Wolf” when none is present.

By: Bob E.

Bob E. — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 16:04:03 +0000

A certain amount of caution is appropriate with any new disease strain. But I think that the news media certainly went out of their way to make this sound like the end of the world. Facts were not verified, numbers were grossly overstated, and thousands of people were inconvenienced for no reason. Many more people die every day from other forms of flu virus than from the A/H1N1 Swine Flu. Yes, things could have been worse, but the news has to be reported in a reasonable and truthful manner for everyone’s sake.

By: Evans Harrell

Evans Harrell — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 15:51:41 +0000

Better to be a bit overly cautious and suffer the media hype than to ignore what could eventually become a major problem. Since it’s the same, or nearly so, strain that killed many in 1918 it pays to take precautions and do the research.

By: Jade N.

Jade N. — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 15:49:09 +0000

Over-hyped? Yes. Necessarily over-hyped? Yes as well!

Swine-flu has emerged in one part of the world, whereas bird flu emerged in Southeast Asia. The fear that if they both meet in the same person, then might mutate into something as contagious as the swine flu, but as deadly as the bird flu.

This might be coming in as early as September/October 2009. So while there is no real fear today, awareness should be raised, and the CDC’s (and WHO’s) mechanisms are being tested today, and hopefully the flaws will be addressed by Fall of 2009…

By: R-Squared

R-Squared — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 15:46:17 +0000

Over-hyped.

The price we pay for the need to fill time by 24-hour news networks. That’s not say it couldn’t have been real, but the news no longer reacts to the facts, it assumes them and then back-tracks when required.