Swine Flu

Okay then, this is what is bothering me.

Swine flu. I know that it's a big deal, I know that apparently it's infected Claremont, and Ross, and Texas, and Mexico. I understand that it is serious. I understand that people have died. But what I want to do is hold a big sign over California, or maybe skywrite, a big sign that says "CHILL".

We have had outbreaks of Swine Flue before. In New Jersey, two women died. There was a death in New York 1992. Don't believe me? Look at the CDC website.

Apocalypse theories seem to be all the rage right now. My buddy Elisa's mom canceled her trip to Mexico because so many people have died down there. But, here's the thing--people have died from the swine flu not only because of the disease, but because ambulance drivers are too freaked out by the aspect of death-by-fever to go and get them. The people who have it here are wearing masks and are recovering well. Everyone they've interviewed in the United States, when asked if it was different than any other flu, said "no." The CDC is trying to contain it. That's why people are advised not to leave their houses. It's not leprosy. It's not the plague.

While there is a valid concern, and we should be extra careful and Purell the living patootles out of everything and everyone, most of it is sensationalist media. Articles that have the words "swine flu" in them get more hits than the article about the glow in the dark puppy (which is freaky, bt dubs, cute little beagle puppies should not have sea anemone genes ANYWHERE). Journalists have caught on, and now title articles with "SWINE FLU. IT'S STILL HERE."

We aren't going to become the zombies from 28 days later. Everyone calm down.