Keeping the Flu in Perspective

Arlen Specter was a welcome sight on the midday television news yesterday. As a voter who tends to vote Democratic, I am delighted to welcome him to the Party and to note that the Dems should now have an easier time overcoming the "Party of No" in Congress, but my real joy in seeing Arlen as the lead story on the news was that he trumped the Swine Flu story. Whew. A few moments rest from the 24-hour news cycle focused on the potential of this flu pandemic.

As a medical writer and historian, I have penned many words about plagues, yellow fever, and influenza, and the treatment--or non-treatment--of these ailments. I applaud the U.S. government and the CDC for the current actions that they are taking. In 2005-06 when the world was on heightened alert for the possible spread of avian flu, plans were made as to how to handle any potential spread of the disease. These plans were set aside when there was no clear evidence that the virus had mutated enough to pass easily from human to human.

Now with the sudden outbreak and quick spread of what is currently referred to as swine flu, the plans for an avian flu pandemic are being put into action. Bravo. This is just what we want to have happen. The fact that we are moving toward summer and a diminishing of regular types of influenza is good news for the preparedness teams. They can now go to work on a vaccine that will be helpful next fall when this strain of influenza may re-gain its strength and start spreading throughout communities.

My objection to the story has to do with the unending focus of the television news headlines on this topic. And because of budget cutbacks, the stations are repeating the stories more willingly. I caught the same swine flu story at 5:40 a.m. and again about an hour later. Howard Kurtz of The Washington Post quotes Mark Feldstein, a former news correspondent who now teaches journalism at George Washington University, as saying: "Cable news has 24 hours to fill, and there isn't 24 hours of exciting news going on. If you scare people, they'll tune in more."

Or maybe viewers will use another option: the "switch the channel" option. Normally I am a total news junky. I'm okay with all the fretting that's going on over President Obama's First Hundred Days (I mean really, what major tasks have any of us taken on and completed in 100 days?) and I guess I might pay attention to a report on who takes Bo out for the last airing at night. But for now, I am looking for alternatives to the news and tuning in to Animal Planet (no pig stories please!) and the History Channel. While there may come a time when I want minute-by-minute reports on the spread of this illness, right now I know all I need to know about it. Let's welcome Kathleen Sebelius to her new post as head of Health and Human Services, and let the CDC get to work on what they need to be doing to protect the public.

And remember, in the greatest country in the world, 47 million people who come down with flu symptoms in 2009 may hold back on seeing a doctor because they don't have health insurance. Maybe that's the medical news story that should be the top priority.

www.americacomesalive.com

Comments

[kassandranobody]

Don't thousands of people die every year from the flu? We need to be careful but I agree with some of those above
I don't have medical insurance as well as millions of others in this country- but

I am more concerned with the rich bleeding us dry

more concerned with getting real information about what is going on -so I can try and plan for an escape route for me and my immediate family to manuever around the rocks the neo-feudals have placed in our way the last 30 years

wake up slaves

[JournalRhythm]

These days there's more articles about it in the news
than people who have actually contracted swine flu
more people gonna die driving in their cars
but that don't make news like new flus or SARS

35,000 deaths occur every flu season
we weren't concerned last year, what's the reason?
i'm not saying that you shouldn't be worried
but worry on the news gets bigger in a hurry

to hear me rap my full opinion, watch:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uSXwbOMV3E

[sydneyismyalias]

Come to think of it, I read a report a few weeks ago that said this year’s flu was unusually virulent and resisting common antibiotics. I'm not trying to speculate here but in my "just the facts" mind, there is a huge piece missing which says to me, this has been around far longer than we currently know. I am suffering from an overload of swine coverage; we are being saturated with facts, lies, mistruths, rumors and so on. An example of the confusing statistics (which may have changed by now) is that the WHO states only 7 deaths in Mexico can be confirmed as from swine flu, the remainder is suspect. Not to mention, reports still are saying only 2,000 confirmed infected in Mexico. I find it hard to believe that in a city of 20 million, in a country of millions more, only 2,000 can be confirmed. I know testing is moving at a snail’s pace, however, I believe in Mexico we are only seeing and hearing about the worst, the rest of the cases are going unreported because they are mild. I know everyone makes a point about the age of the victims but the lifestyle and resources available in Mexico are a world's difference from those in the U.S. I don't know... I feel as if fear is trumping common sense and facts, which is pushing other important issues facing our nation and world to the wayside.

[Willow712]

The flu is a virus, and antibiotics will not work with a virus. One's antibodies have to kick into gear and defeat the virus. The tamiflu, etc. help defeat the virus, but one's antibodies do most of the work. Once you've had this certain strain of flu, you cannot have it again.

Sure the swine flu has mutated from birds, pigs, etc. to humans. But that happens quite often throughout the past million years. Our bodies know how to use antibodies to adapt to different mutations.

The best thing we can do is wash our hands well, (Personally I like "Yankee Doodle" as the timer for washing), don't touch our face until our hands are washed, and eat healthy, rest when needed, drink lots of fluids and maintain our health.

[sydneyismyalias]

I could not agree with your article more. At work today, as the cases increased, the panic grew to frightening levels. People came into my office and wondered aloud what it means now that we have over 100 confirmed cases. I commented, it means we have over 100 confirmed cases; luckily, a majority of them is mild. Then they brought up the first death in the U.S. I again had to remind them that the death occurred in the U.S. but it was not an American and he is reported to have had health issues (not to belittle the death of the innocent child by any means, more or less trying to have my co-workers regain focus). I reminded them that seasonally approximately 36,000 Americans die of the flu. I'm sure there will be deaths because the "regular" flu causes deaths. One thing that has been swirling in my mind though is the fact that I cannot fathom this is "new" within the last few weeks or even months. Mexico has this virus for quite some time and with reports being told of how they handle the ill, it is no wonder this escalated. No finger pointing is necessary; this is a world problem now.

[KillTheMessenger]

Now, now, why don't we just move on from both the flu, which is developing into a non-story, and Arlen, who is developing into a non-Senator? Now that would make real sense.

[Kate Kelly - Huffpost Blogger]

Not a bad idea! Each story is important but all of them get over done!


Kate

[rockwood]

Right on! I am very concerned about the flu and it is a very serious issue, but I agree with Kate and applaud your brighter outlook here. The press has to jump on this, but it is depressing and scary. You have articulated what many are feeling. You think maybe because the economy is not as scary the disease will replace it? Well done.

[Kate Kelly - Huffpost Blogger]

Of course the flu is of concern, but I hope that it doesn't detract from other issues at the news conference­... it would be nice to hear about the economy, global warming, and health care for all rather than trying to get more headlines out of the flu.