Swine Flu Media Frenzy

Reading this mornings paper, nearly every section contained an article in reference to Swine Flu, from discrimination against Hispanics, the historical "Spanish Flu" that I mentioned as well, charts and a series of Q&A. I'm beginning to wonder if its not the Newspapers behind the frenzy as they are losing business with the internet news now available to us, however they aren't the only ones benefiting from the frenzy.

In todays news my questions were addressed from my previous post and how this panic is going to effect the economy. In an article by Andres Oppenheimer, The Latin American correspondent for the Miami Herald, he stated that the crisis will probably "prolong the global recession", "deepen" Mexico's "economic downturn", "increase migration pressures", "complicate President Obama's plans to pass a comprehensive U.S. immigration reform" But on the upside, it will "slow Mexico's battle against drug cartel violence". Does anyone else see the political ramifications here?

How convenient for the Republican party that the "Swine Flu" is killing several birds with one stone. Wasn't it just a few weeks ago that all of this panic began, coinciding with the recent violence in Mexico and the Drug cartel? And don't the Republicans want more stringent laws agains immigration, aren't they also trying to make the President look bad in the media every chance they get?

In another related article by the Wasington Associated Press, entitled "What you need to know about the new swine flu" It was asked "Is it treatable?", the answer was a resounding "yes", with and I quote "STANDARD anti-flu drugs". Yes, that means exactly what you are thinking, this is just the standard flu. Every year our flu shots are modified accordingly to the "strain" of flu that is most prevelant. Another question is presented; "Is there a vaccine?", "No. The goverment is working to develop one and the earliest shots could roll out would be in the fall". Isn't that "normally" when our new flu shots roll out, targeting the presumed strains for the season?

Article by Elizabeth A. Hall
5/3/09