Spring Break
A look back at the swine flu scare
Erik Anderson
Issue date: 5/5/09 Section: Opinion
If you have not devolved into a flesh-eating, half-pig zombie yet, then the H1N1 flu virus, formerly known as swine flu, has not materialized into the pandemic the news media originally reported.
After a week of apocalyptic front-page headlines and 24-hour cable news coverage, the virus appears to be in decline.
World Health Organization officials announced over the weekend that the H1N1 flu virus is a mild strain with a mortality rate comparable to the seasonal flu. There is also no evidence that it is spreading in a sustained way outside of North America.
According to the most recent WHO information, 1085 cases have been reported in 21 different countries. Mexico has had 590 cases with 25 deaths. The only other death from the virus was a Mexican toddler who died at a hospital in Texas. The U.S. has reported 286 cases in 36 states.
In comparison, the seasonal flu infects up to 20 percent of the population and claims 250,000 to 500,000 lives worldwide each year.
Humankind's predictably irrational response to fear has led to a hilarious circus of overreactions and political posturing. Here's a look back at the swine flu, in memoriam:
The first absurdity was the debate over the name "swine flu."
An Israeli health official proclaimed that the name was offensive to Jews and Muslims, for whom consumption of pork is forbidden and should be changed to "Mexican flu"-apparently with little consideration of what may be offensive to Mexicans.
I proposed the more scientifically rigorous "man-bird-pig flu."
The name was officially changed to the H1N1 flu virus after a lobby by the pork industry, and for good reason - despite zero evidence that eating pork can infect a person with swine flu, countries around the world have banned imports of pork products from the U.S., Mexico and Canada.
Egypt went as far as to slaughter all 300,000 of its pigs, even though there have been no cases of swine flu in the country. The government's decision was met with public outcry from pig farmers, who are a Christian minority in a predominantly Muslim country.
After a week of apocalyptic front-page headlines and 24-hour cable news coverage, the virus appears to be in decline.
World Health Organization officials announced over the weekend that the H1N1 flu virus is a mild strain with a mortality rate comparable to the seasonal flu. There is also no evidence that it is spreading in a sustained way outside of North America.
According to the most recent WHO information, 1085 cases have been reported in 21 different countries. Mexico has had 590 cases with 25 deaths. The only other death from the virus was a Mexican toddler who died at a hospital in Texas. The U.S. has reported 286 cases in 36 states.
In comparison, the seasonal flu infects up to 20 percent of the population and claims 250,000 to 500,000 lives worldwide each year.
Humankind's predictably irrational response to fear has led to a hilarious circus of overreactions and political posturing. Here's a look back at the swine flu, in memoriam:
The first absurdity was the debate over the name "swine flu."
An Israeli health official proclaimed that the name was offensive to Jews and Muslims, for whom consumption of pork is forbidden and should be changed to "Mexican flu"-apparently with little consideration of what may be offensive to Mexicans.
I proposed the more scientifically rigorous "man-bird-pig flu."
The name was officially changed to the H1N1 flu virus after a lobby by the pork industry, and for good reason - despite zero evidence that eating pork can infect a person with swine flu, countries around the world have banned imports of pork products from the U.S., Mexico and Canada.
Egypt went as far as to slaughter all 300,000 of its pigs, even though there have been no cases of swine flu in the country. The government's decision was met with public outcry from pig farmers, who are a Christian minority in a predominantly Muslim country.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Susi Bennett
posted 5/05/09 @ 8:48 PM MST
Thank god for some reason and sense! What a total circus our media has created, in the interests of what? I appreciate your story, thank you.
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