"Swine Flu: The Sequel" or merely "Swine Flu: The Extended Version"
At the peak of Swine Flu hysteria, I wrote a blog post here mentioning my thoughts on the virus and how I thought the media coverage was affecting the masses. Back then it seemed like everywhere you looked someone was talking about H1N1. But within a weeks, there was a lull. And Swine Flu was off our radar.
But within in the last week - there has been a resurgence in media coverage of Swine Flu. According to the World Health Organization, the H1N1 virus is now officially a pandemic.
Here in the US we've had more than 45 deaths and the numbers of infections seem to only be climbing. According to the NYT, "nearly 90 percent of the flu cases that are tested nationally are the new swine H1N1, not seasonal flu." And no one really knows exact figures, the World Health Organization estimates that in 76 countries there have been ~35,928 cases of the virus and 163 deaths.
However, before you retreat to the basement or bomb shelter - keep in mind that "For most people made ill by the germ, the symptoms mimic the seasonal flu: fever, cough, aches, and pains, but no serious side effects and, in many cases, no visit to the doctor." In addition, hospitals are upping protocol and drug companies around the globe are working hard to produce medicine that will fight symptoms and vaccines that will prevent future infections.
In fact, last week a Swiss pharmaceutical company announced that they had created the first successful H1N1 vaccine. These vaccines should be on the market sometime in September. Back in May, the US, our Dept of Health and Human Services placed a $289 million preemptive order for the vaccine. Recently other companies like Sanofi have promised 100 million vaccines to the W.H.O. so they can distribute affordable vaccines to poorer nations.
You can out my newest post on the WEGO Health blog here.
But I want to know what you think!
•Are you worried about Swine Flu?
•Have you or someone you know been hospitalized for flu-like symptoms?
•What precautions are you taking to stay healthy?
•Do you think the media has handled the "pandemic" correctly? What would you change about the coverage?
But within in the last week - there has been a resurgence in media coverage of Swine Flu. According to the World Health Organization, the H1N1 virus is now officially a pandemic.
Here in the US we've had more than 45 deaths and the numbers of infections seem to only be climbing. According to the NYT, "nearly 90 percent of the flu cases that are tested nationally are the new swine H1N1, not seasonal flu." And no one really knows exact figures, the World Health Organization estimates that in 76 countries there have been ~35,928 cases of the virus and 163 deaths.
However, before you retreat to the basement or bomb shelter - keep in mind that "For most people made ill by the germ, the symptoms mimic the seasonal flu: fever, cough, aches, and pains, but no serious side effects and, in many cases, no visit to the doctor." In addition, hospitals are upping protocol and drug companies around the globe are working hard to produce medicine that will fight symptoms and vaccines that will prevent future infections.
In fact, last week a Swiss pharmaceutical company announced that they had created the first successful H1N1 vaccine. These vaccines should be on the market sometime in September. Back in May, the US, our Dept of Health and Human Services placed a $289 million preemptive order for the vaccine. Recently other companies like Sanofi have promised 100 million vaccines to the W.H.O. so they can distribute affordable vaccines to poorer nations.
You can out my newest post on the WEGO Health blog here.
But I want to know what you think!
•Are you worried about Swine Flu?
•Have you or someone you know been hospitalized for flu-like symptoms?
•What precautions are you taking to stay healthy?
•Do you think the media has handled the "pandemic" correctly? What would you change about the coverage?
Tags: cautious, crazy, death, epidemic, flu, hysteria, infection, media, news, pandemic
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by John on -
I'm not as worried about the Swine Flu as much as I should be. Maybe it's because I don't know anyone who has it...
But every time I see news stories about the Swine Flu I feel like they are all isolated cases that are taken care of immediately. It also sounds like it isn't as deadly as the health community once thought. I think that is why there has been such a lull in coverage. Now that it's a pandemic, I'm sure more people will start to be more careful. But what can people really do? Wash their hands? Wear a mask? There aren't that many precautions that can be made.
I really feel like people's attention to the Swine Flu will rise with the death toll. There are only 163 deaths worldwide, which doesn't seem like a lot to me. Perhaps if/when the death toll begins to rise more rapidly will people pay more attention and be more cautious of the virus.
Until then, I don't think we will see that many people walking around with masks on.
As far as coverage, I think the media blew the Swine Flu out of proportion and created hysteria around the virus. I don't think it was as serious as they initially made it out to be. I also think they realized this and stopped covering it as much (hence the lull in coverage). Now that it is a pandemic and more is known about the virus, perhaps the media will cover it with accurate severity this time around.
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