For starters, Mexico, described as the “epicenter” of this potential pandemic, is saying the swine flu is on the decline.  In addition, according to the same article, there are experts claiming this may be no worse that the plain ol’ seasonal flu (which kills 250,000 to 500,000 annually, so it isn’t exactly a tame illness).

On the other side of the coin, the WHO is claiming H1N1 could return “with a vengeance,” so we can’t let our guard down.

Well, at this point, I’d say we’re seriously overreacting, and the WHO is just trying to save face.  Cases in the U.S. have been mild enough that a regular over-the-counter flu medication and rest can remedy it.  Quite simply, this “pandemic” is so mild it’s laughable.

Just for fun: Courtesy of the Mental Floss Blog, here are a few propaganda PSAs from the 1976 swine flu scare designed to get people to take the vaccine that was available at the time.  Why is it no longer available?  Well, it killed 25 people and paralyzed several more; it was more dangerous than the actual flu!

WHO: Dozens die in Gaza because of delayed Israeli medical permits
By News agencies

UN’s health organization says that while Israel is letting in unprecedented number of Palestinian patients for care, lengthy period required for background security checks result in needless deaths. Top Israeli coordinator rejects claim, cites cases in which Palestinians have used illnesses as pretext to carry out bombings

Article Continues… (Yediot Ahronot)

This is all very unfortunate, but Israel can’t let it’s guard down for even a second unless it wants to let more terrorists in. Is one Gazan life worth more than a dozen Israelis?

However, what bugs me here is the motivation behind the WHO putting this information out there. Unless you really dig into what’s going on, Israel comes across as the bad guy. So, to the casual news viewer/reader, Israel looks uncaring to the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. That simply isn’t the case.