H1N1 hype is overblown
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Let’s see, we’ve had the 1918 flu, the Asian flu, the Spanish flu, the avian flu, and now the swine flu. Flu outbreaks over the last 100 years have killed millions of people, it’s nothing new or unexpected. And as each one comes along, so does another vaccine. Each vaccine then becomes obsolete and another is needed to combat the latest flu. Lots of money to be made by pharmaceutical giants.
Why are we so paranoid with this latest one? Why are we so frightened and lining up to get this flu shot? The newspapers and other media inundate us daily with news of the latest and rare casualty. People die all the time from the flu. Is it because our immune systems can no longer handle even the slightest bacteria, virus or germ? Have we compromised our own immune systems by taking antibiotics for less virulent illnesses?
Yes, the old, pregnant, young and those with compromised immune systems should be protected, no question about that. Yes, we should all wash our hands often and sneeze into tissues, that’s common sense. But no hand shaking or close contact? That’s a bit much. The media attention to H1N1 is being blown out of proportion as to the risks for healthy people.
If one maintains a healthy lifestyle and stays home when sick, the chances of spreading any illness is thereby limited. What we need to do is not spread our colds or flus. That should be “vaccine” enough.
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