by Mark Silva
Before this week of swine-flu hysteria is out, we should be able to declare a moratorium on cable television's use of the term: "Global pandemic.''
And talk about stoking the fever:
"Are you more concerned today than you were yesterday?'' CNN's breathless Wolf Blitzer asked a spokesman for the World Health Organization this evening. Well, yes, the WHO man said.
And why wouldn't he be?
In the United States alone, the count of confirmed cases of swine flu had tripled today from the day before - with 64 confirmed cases at this hour, according to the Centers for Disease Control, 45 alone in New York City, where a lot of schoolchildren also are getting a closer look.
All day long, announcers on the various cable news networks have been asking when the U.S. is going to think about closing its borders. Well, it's not, Homeland Security's Janet Napolitano said. That would have only a "marginal," if any, impact.
And Blitzer took us tonight to "Ground Zero'' - Mexico - where Dr. Sanjay Gupta is making one of his house calls (Could have been surgeon general if the pay were a little better.)
"Is this crisis escalating, or is it easing?'' Blitzer asked.
"I think it's easing,'' Gupta said, citing a trailing off of fatalities in Mexico, where more than 150 have died but that number hasn't moved much.
"Easing?''
We missed that headline today in the cable churn about the "global pandemic.''
Tomorrow, we'll be more concerned than today, no doubt.
Comments
It might be the start of a pandemic, but it is more likely just a bit of a preview for the inevitable flu pandemic that lies in our future. In the latter case, the good that comes from it (not to diminish at all the tragedy of those who have died from this outbreak) will be better preparation for that eventuality.
Posted by: swine flu mexico | April 28, 2009 10:36 PM
Cruse ships have continued to bring thousands of people in and out of Mexico during this health scare. They are ignoring the "essential travel" thing. In the future, the Obama administration needs to be more agile and have the capability to swiftly close any border(s) necessary to our well being. The CDC and American Security, aka Homeland Security, too quickly have put out the word that it is "too late" for containment. That is BS. Algebraic numbers can always be cut down with adjustments anywhere along the line. Looks like Obama continues to allow money and big business to prevail over common sense and a nation's health during the crucial containment stage. Who was the Repug woman senator who recently killed funds for flu preparedness in the stimulus bill? Brava.
The flu is a windfall for some drug makers. Baxter International, who is working on an avian flu shot, recently accidentally--oops, sorry--released a viable mixed strain of human and avian flu into many countries--including the USA. Is Baxter currently licensed to sell an after-the fact anti-viral in the USA? See Toronto Sun Baxter International flu. NYSE: BAX . Baxter should not be given license to sell anything relating to flu in the US until this is investigated more. I hope Sanjay is correct in saying that Swine flu is easing.
Posted by: Vivian | April 28, 2009 11:28 PM