Thursday, 30 April 2009
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The Media is Blowing The “Swine Flu” Epidemic Out of Proportion
This is really getting out of control.
The media is blowing the “Swine Flu” epidemic out of proportion. Don’t believe me? Try going to any news website or search engine and not have the headlines popping out at you. Try casually talking to anyone at work or on the street about anything other than swine flu.
Turn on the radio, you hear people talking about it. It is really not that big of a deal. Let’s look at the numbers:
- Approximately 150 people in Mexico dead- in a country of 109 million.
- One fatality in the United States, with 91 people infected- in a country of about 306 million.
- Number of “regular” flu pediatric deaths last year: 88
- Number of flu cases reported each year in the US: 25-50 million. Leading to 150,000 hospitalizations and 30,000-40,000 deaths each year.
- Estimated number of worldwide cancer cases each year: 12 million
- Estimated number of worldwide cancer deaths each year- 7.5 million. This is a rate of about 20,000 people a day.
- 41,059= number of people killed in the US in traffic accidents in 2007
- There are 3,000 new cases of meningitis diagnosed per year- with 350 casualties.
- An average of 177 people in the US die from animal bites and stings each year
I could go on, and on, and on… but I’m hoping you get my point.
Swine flu? Not a big deal. Yes the deaths are tragic, but when you look at the numbers, there are many more ways you could die (and if you watch ‘1000 Ways to Die’ on Spike TV like I do, you know stupidity is no exception).
Look, every year influenza is potentially life-threatening. That’s why doctors always recommend the flu vaccine- especially for the young, old, and those with weakened immune systems. Why are more people dying in Mexico than the United States? It’s a 3rd world country where citizens live in cramped, dirty quarters with little to no access to adequate health care. Still sad and unfortunate that people are dying—but again, 150 people out of 109 MILLION is not cause for panic.
So what can you do?
First of all, don’t be a sheep. Don’t buy into the panic that the media wants you to believe, that the medical community is banking on, and those who are anti-immigration count on to help fuel their “close the border” battle cries (by the way, since swine flu is everywhere now, closing the borders is a futile and politically motivated excuse).
Secondly, WASH YOUR HANDS! I cannot emphasize this enough. Sure, I’m a germaphobe who hates touching doors in the 1st place, but it really is the BEST way to stop the spread of disease and save lives. Do not, I repeat, DO NOT- give me excuses of why you don’t have to wash your hands. Gross.
Finally, educate yourself and others on swine flu symptoms and seek medical help when it’s truly necessary.
This is not the apocalypse. Everything’s ok. You can all BREATHE- even without a medical mask.
This has been a public service announcement brought to you by Common Sense. Yes, I did my own research.
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- From: TrueBritt@xanga
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Comments (59)
Way out of proportion. It's just another strand of the flu. If you take care of yourself, you'll be fine. This is just another tool to have people under the media's control.
I agree. I think it's too much. Besides, what's a little virus between friends?
I think that the media IS making it sound as if there is some raging Black Plague of Doom spreading around. However, it's still a good idea to take precautions, simply because it is an unfamiliar strain and there is no vaccine. Right now everything is comparably mild to the normal flu. But with no vaccine and a strain that we really don't know very well, you can't be too careful. It's only been spreading world-wide for about a week now. It might go away, it might get worse and the number of deaths might spike because of the lack of vaccine.
Still, good advice. There's nothing we can do about it but not freak out and have good hygiene. I work at a school, so I'm being EXTRA careful. There's no better place to spread germs than a high school. Ick.
Haven't they said that the medical mask doesn't actually protect you from any of the germs, anyway?
I do think it's being blown out of proportion. The media is having a field day with it. They dream of having such things, you know. Making things out to be far worse than they are is what the media does best. Unless it has to do with politics, war, etc; then they'll lie to make it seem like a field of flowers.
I think a lot of people are freaked out because they're actually hearing about deaths. Typically, the number of deaths aren't put on TV. You typically don't hear "x amount of people died from the flu today" on the news. Same with all other things. That's just not something you hear. So when people hear even the smallest of number, along with the words "epidemic" (even if they're saying "it can't turn into an epidemic" -- because people block words out without realizing it) they're going to freak out and start praying.
I'll admit, I am worried. Not a lot, but I am. I'm worried like I would be for any other kind of thing, such as the "regular" flu. But I do know that the media is basically using this to get more views, and that's about it.
FYI, its a pandemic. I talked to my friend in Chilie and they are all scarred of getting it as they are over seas.
I think it's ridiculous. It's like they're trying to give you all the facts, but at the same time blow it up and make it as scary as they possibly can.
Like earlier this week, the headlines were all "FIRST AMERICAN SWINE FLU DEATH!!!!" but you read the article, and it was a two year old girl VISITING FROM MEXICO.
No one outside of Mexico has died of this disease. I think we all just need to chill.
oh totally! soo retarded,
and i am seriously sick of listening to everyone talk about it and making accusations
@KaidaSani@xanga - a little kid died yesterday...
however, everytime a new disease comes out, the media freaks us all out about it. Anthrax? Mad cow disease? Swine flu?? We have more important things to worry about anyways T_T
XANGA is Blowing The “Swine Flu” Epidemic Out of Proportion
@lil_teen_azn_grl@xanga - I think we're talking about the same thing.
I think in HK they're de-infecting tables, washrooms, things like that every hour or so* which I believe is like: woah. I agree, you should really clean those places. But de-infecting them every hour? What if those de-infecting liquids are left on the tables where food could be contaminated?
We aren't given vaccinations or traffic laws because the flu and accidents are kept secret. If you scare people, they're more likely to protect themselves.
For example, if people had made a big deal about AIDS in the 70's as opposed to the 80's. I'm sure it wouldn't be a pandemic all over the world. Oops.
I'd much rather they give me all the facts that I would ever need to know than not know anything, and let this pandemic get as bad as the Hong Kong flu, or the previous swine flu epidemic that killed about 330000 and 700000 respectively. Better safe than sorry, it is possibly a huge killer indeed.
ok if u think about it the other related stuff dont have nuthin to do with it this is a world wide bio-terrorist attack that is gonna get to every1 if they dont stop it (vacine)....its passed on human to human...everyday it keeps spreading and maybe by a month a big amount of humans will get it if u catch my drift its not like the cold cuz with this once u get it u may have a chance u can die if not treated.....but if u guys dont care thats up 2 u but all i can say is becareful and let god be with you...
@Shock_Every0ne@xanga - Mhm.
@MessyJessi86@xanga - I think your post is right on about this. Probably it's nothing, but the people in charge don't know for sure. If you can, it's better to inform people well before a potential disaster. It does appear this will blow over soon.
*sigh*
I agree they are blowing it out of proportion, like everything they do. Look at the credit crunch, Im glad that is finally out of the media, it just made things worse, people were frightened to spend so more places went under, and the same will happen with this, more people will go to hospital so waiting times will be longer and those who actually have it will be in waiting rooms, touching things and spreading it more. The media needs to be controlled!!
i agree -- the whole thing has been blown way out of proportion.
Isn't there anything else to talk about other than the Swine Flu? Almost every post that's been featured on this topic is exactly the same...
Umm no offense but I dnt think that YOU should be saying anything about it. You may have done some research but chances are it wasnt that good. Commen sense? Sweetie maybe you should look up the defintion. Oh yes, and the media isnt blowing anything out of proportion it doesnt matter how many people are in each country when even like 40 people die..that is a lot, especially when they are children...Like what, Do you have a heart made of stone? Like not gunna lie, You sound sort of b****y. Oh yea and chances are that the media has done more research than YOU, so why don't you get off their case, because they at least are trying to keep people calm and rational about everything....you are sitting at home making fun of them and everything because you have nuthing better to do...plus if you ask me there has been wayy to many blogs about the flu already and nobody like followers =/
Oh yes and God help all of you people who think this os no big deal
The media definitely blows the swine flu out of proportion. What's even more annoying is that it's causing people to freak out, like a girl in my class who sanitizes everything in her work area (desk, chair, etc.) before sitting down. Her friends kid about her being "Mrs. Clean" but she makes such a BIG scene out of it, distracting the whole class. Completely unnecessary.
Yes. And it's irresponsible.
As far as I know, nobody outside of Mexico (except for the Mexican toddler visiting Texas) has died. We have the swine flu here, and the cases are pretty mild.
It's not a death sentence. The media shouldn't be making people think it is.
I agree.