Justinology

So, it’s been about a week or so since the swine flu became big news, and 2 or 3 days since the media and World Health Organization changed the name of the illness to the H1N1 virus to keep pig farmers happy.  After all that time, you think we’d realize it just isn’t a big problem at the moment.

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!