Swine Flu: Media Hype or Real Threat?

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The media sure has been good about getting the word out about the swine flu.  Over the last few days I didn't quite get it.  I mean, it's the flu.  People get the flu, and the very old and very young sometimes die from it.  I wasn't sure why everyone was getting so upset and frantic. "Someone in our area might have the flu! OMG!" I went to the doctor today as a follow-up for what happened to me earlier this month, and at the front desk there was a box of masks. And a sign that said, "If you have flu symptoms, please wear a mask."

Tonight I did a little research. I listened to the news, spoke with my sister, and read some articles. I think I have a slightly better understanding now. I just read an article about the first person to die from the virus. She was 39 years old. I presume since she was young, and the article didn't mention she was weak or unhealthy, that she was not in the demographic where death typically results from a case of the flu. The doctors did not recognize the symptoms. She was gasping for air, and her feet and hands were blue. That doesn't sound like the "normal" flu I know.

My sister mentioned that some of the concern is the fact that it mutated enough from pigs so that it could be passed to humans. The concern is it could mutate again and become much much worse. Or, it might be fine. Some people might get the flu, be sick for a few days, and get better. But, I guess there's a real fear that it could be much worse than that.  The one thing I read/heard that made me feel a little better: the cases in the US seem to be much less severe than the ones in Mexico.

I'm still not entirely sure whether to panic or not. One thing is for sure: I'm not going to Mexico any time soon. And, I'm not getting on an airplane. Also, washing my hands a lot. You know, just in case. I do not want to get sick again after what I went through in March and April.


So what do you think? Which camp are you in?  How concerned are you?

 



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6 Comments

I'm not worried about it at all.

There are an estimated 36,000 people who die of seasonal flu every year. Second, over 200,000 people are hospitilizaed every year.
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/disease.htm

Maybe it is a new strain that won't be stopped right away and will kill billions of people but what good does it do for anyone to panic? Panicking doesn't make it better nor does it make you immune to getting sick. The virus doesn't say, "OMG they are panicking let's go to another one."

If you get it you get it. That's just the way things go. You may get better you may not. If you don't get better then it just means it was your time to go. It's not like anyone can really control any of this.

The media needs to chill out a little.

Great points, Christina. I think you're right. It is smart to practice good hygiene but there is no use in panicking. There is no sense in worrying about those things we have no control over.

On the news they were showing people at the various grocery and drug stores buying up all the masks and hand sanitizer available. I was definitely not one of them.

It's possible my answer comes from the fact that I do not watch the news.

Not concerned at all. My feeling is if it's gonna happen in this household, it's gonna happen. Period. I tend to worry but I'm trying to turn that ship around.

Almost 90% of the stuff I worry about does not come to fruition. So 90% of that time was wasted. If crazy stuff is going to come down the pike, I will have plenty of time to wallow in the worry.

So lately I focus on today. Yes I think it's unfortunate that others have died, but we could all die from a nuclear war, right? Is it worth worrying about that every day of your life?

I say no. When I see the missiles in the air I will worry like there's no tomorrow. Until then, I'll take my chances and have a BLT.

Cardiogirl, you make a good point. Maybe I should be watching less news :)

I am a worrier too. I always think of every possible negative outcome and worry that it will happen. I am sure if I had children it would make it that much worse. I definitely need to worry less (since the majority it pointless anyway, like you said) and concentrate more on today (not what MIGHT happen tomorrow). Of course, easier said than done!

Remember a year or so ago when we were all going to get bird flu? Yeah. So that was nothing. I find it both annoying & humorous that the news *this* week was essentially led off with "oops so we may have over reacted just a tad & it's really no worse than the regular seasonal flu." The media totally sensationalizes this stuff & creates the fear. With only 220 cases confirmed in the US, I wonder how many of us actually know a single person who was diagnosed? That baby that died in Texas? Was actually a Mexican baby who was brought here for treatment. The woman who died yesterday in Texas? Actually had a bunch of other medical issues underlying.

I do my best to always take the news with a grain of salt. They go for ratings. And I personally think the government let them run with it for two reasons: 1) it got everyone's mind off the economy for a bit and 2) when it turned out to not be so bad, the goverment looks like it did something awesome. When my friends in the medical field tell me I need to worry, that's when I'll start to be concerned.

Dawn, I guess I'm just glad it really hasn't turned out to be much of anything. It sure is an interesting phenomenon though, how easily the media can make the majority us go crazy and panic. There was one confirmed case in my city (got sick 2 days after returning from Mexico) but she has since recovered.

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Stories, advice, and random thoughts from a thirty-something female.

Many people in their thirties are dealing with common issues and concerns. Some of these include buying a home, establishing a career, starting a family, and dealing with aging parents. I will blog about all these things as well as other every day stuff as I make my way through this third decade of life.

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This page contains a single entry by Erin published on April 30, 2009 8:24 PM.

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