Today's Flu News

Keep calm, and keep washing your hands

By Stuart Fox Posted 04.28.2009 at 12:25 pm 5 Comments

Flu on Newsmap Newsmap.jp

It's been three days since swine flu made it to the front page of most newspapers, and I'd like to thank all the readers who have chosen to follow PopSci's coverage, instead of retreating to their basements with ammo and clean water. Here are some highlights from the ongoing media frenzy.

The New York Times reports that many countries have begun tightening their borders. Japan has deployed body heat sensors and health officials to its airports, and Russia, China, Taiwan and Hong Kong have prepared to screen airline passengers. The story also notes the World Health Organization said yesterday that attempting to the contain the spread of the virus at this point is futile.

The New York Post, in a story uncharacteristically light on decapitations, strip clubs and political scandal, covers the spread of swine flu amongst students, parents and faculty in a New York City high school.

Foreign Policy's "net.effect" blog looks at how tweets about the flu have been spreading misinformation. They also went with the "Creative Commons picture of a cute pig" art for the article, something you are bound to see a lot more of in the coming days. Note that the term "swine flu" for the disease is a controversial one.

Even the Onion AV Club is getting in on the act, posting PSAs from the 1976 swine flu panic. For those out of the know, 1976 swine flu panic began when a soldier in Fort Dix, NJ, died from the virus. Fearing another pandemic, the government started a crash vaccination program that even included President Jimmy Carter being injected on live television.

Unfortunately, the vaccine proved far deadlier than the disease. While no one else died from the flu, 25 people died from a neuromuscular disorder caused by the vaccine.

And that should do it for now. Post any questions about the flu, pandemics, or related topics in the comments section. I'll answer any reasonable questions (that means you, creationists). Cheers!

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5 Comments

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orajnamalik

04/28/09 at 12:53 pm

I'm just wondering, what are some good precaution to take?

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dwigans

04/28/09 at 7:38 pm

This whole thing is ridiculous. Sure, there's a chance it could mutate and potentially kill millions of people across the globe. Then again, there's probably a better chance of Bill O'Reilly admitting that he's completely full of s***. I'm not just picking on FOX News, the entire media is blowing it way out of proportion. Especially last night when swine flu coverage was only interrupted occasionally by a hilarious video of a bull that found its way into a supermarket. Why? Because if you tell people there's a deadly virus that's already killed people and is spreading all over the world, they're probably going to sit there and watch it. The more intense and serious they make it sound, the more people will watch. Sure it's killed people, but the people that have died all lived in Mexico and we have no way of knowing what other factors contributed to their deaths. The cases within the US have not been serious and CNN say's that some have even made a full "recovery" from their runny noses and other common flu symptoms that we've all experienced before. Just wash your hands, keep updated, and know that the media has different priorities than the general public. There's risk in everything we do, we just need to know how to assess them in a logical manner. You know things have gone wrong in a country when people respect the popular media's opinions more than the President's.

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Woomyse

04/28/09 at 11:57 pm

Wash your hands with soap and don't touch your face.

And please don't use that 'anti bacterial' stuff; it breads medically resistant strains of bugs.

There's probably at least one or two deadly viruses or bacteria being dealt a deathblow by your auto immune system right now!

So you just dodged a bullet and didn't even realize it.

Rule by fear only breeds more fear...

Don't panic.

It's interesting that the outbreak has occurred so late in the flu season.

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kpatel007

04/29/09 at 8:11 pm

I was wondering if phage therapy could work on this virus? or does it only work on bacterial infections?

Also, does the Tamiflu prescription work or not?

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bdhoro87

04/30/09 at 8:48 am

The best thing you can do is quarantine yourself in your home until the flu has devoured everyone else. When the TV broadcasts have stopped, you'll know its safe to come out.

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