| Could our government's dire forecasts, warnings, | | | | A perceived and overly fear mongered crisis pushes |
| preparations, and hastily ordered untested and | | | | most people's focus onto only the benefits of so called |
| unproven vaccinations prove to be more disruptive | | | | precautionary measures and not on the possible risks. |
| than the H1N1 swine flu itself? Experts have always | | | | An example we all need to be aware of is when in |
| pointed out that not only does societal panic not help | | | | 1976 during the last H1N1 outbreak, yes this is not the |
| during any public health situation such as the current | | | | first swine flu scare, when the federal government |
| H1N1 swine flu pandemic but it can even backfire | | | | decided to vaccinate 43 million people against a |
| causing problems much worse than the outbreak itself. | | | | different swine flu strain. This decision backfired and |
| Fear is the Enemy | | | | did great damage. |
| The media has already been fueling the fire and | | | | 1976 Swine Flu Scare |
| causing fears to become worse. The United States | | | | The 1976 swine flu pandemic never materialized (illness |
| has limited resources for a real pandemic so any | | | | never spread beyond 240 soldiers stationed at Fort |
| swine flu fear or over reaction is going to hurt the | | | | Dix, N.J.) but some 500 Americans who did get |
| health-care system. According to Dr Marc Siegel, | | | | vaccinated came down with a rare neurodegenerative |
| associate professor of medicine at New York | | | | condition called Guillain-Barre syndrome, which many |
| university Scholl of Medicine "Our emergency rooms | | | | experts believe was linked to the shot. Twenty-five of |
| will be flooded with worried people, doctors' phones will | | | | those 500 people died. |
| be ringing off the hook, everyone will be afraid of | | | | The current H1N1 swine flu outbreak remains very mild. |
| every sniffle and wanting to get tested for the flu." | | | | It may be widespread but as the present facts show it |
| A constant barrage of information from the media is | | | | is no worse than any other normal flu strain. |
| creating fear that may be completely unnecessary. | | | | Unfortunately the focus on the current swine flu cases |
| Here are some recent examples that everyone should | | | | have caused fear which in turn has created |
| be aware of so that they have a better overall picture | | | | unnecessary reactions. |
| of the truth. | | | | Current reports from medical laboratories are showing |
| 1. Numbers being taken out of context such as the U.S | | | | strain from the vast numbers of test specimens they |
| Centers for Disease Control & Prevention reports | | | | are being asked to process because everything is |
| that nearly 600 US citizens have died from H1N1 swine | | | | being tested as swine flu. In any normal flu season a |
| flu. While this sounds like a scary number this needs to | | | | test would not be requested. |
| be compared to the average seasonal flu deaths of | | | | As our government and the media continue to overly |
| 36,000 Americans each year. It also must be noted | | | | hype H1N1 swine flu there are parents now reacting |
| that several of the people that died may have had | | | | and demanding vaccine for their children. Pediatricians |
| other health complications making them susceptible to | | | | are being flooded with phone calls and the offices are |
| any form of flu. | | | | not equipped to handle all of the extra administrative |
| 2. Overly dramatic moves by public health officials that | | | | duties to receive and process all these calls. |
| the media immediately broadcasts across the US. A | | | | Currently the H1N1 swine flu infection appears to be |
| perfect example of this was when we had | | | | mild and has not caused large numbers of people to |
| widespread U.S. school closing ordered when H1N1 | | | | be hospitalized. While we must remain vigilant of a |
| swine flu came to light in the spring. This caused | | | | severe outbreak it is an understatement to say that |
| immediate societal fear. The media always focuses on | | | | the media and our government should be handling this |
| the worst-case scenario. Let's all remember that the | | | | differently. Too much government intervention can |
| news is always fighting for ratings and doom and | | | | cause even more problems like what happened in the |
| gloom gets attention more than anything. | | | | outbreak in 1976. |
| 3. Simplistic, emotional media headlines can also stoke | | | | Protect Your Health - Be Proactive and Strengthen |
| outsized fears, creating "irrational behavior," said | | | | Your Immune System |
| Joshua Klapow, associate professor at the University | | | | What should you be doing for yourself and your family |
| of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health and | | | | to prepare for the flu season beyond possible |
| a member of the CDC-funded South Central Center | | | | vaccinations? The best thing to do is strengthen your |
| for Public Health Preparedness. | | | | and each member of your families' immune system. |
| 4. The fear of a drug shortage can cause dangers of | | | | Read about how Vitamin D has been proven to help |
| stockpiling Tamiflu or even taking high dosages for the | | | | people resist the flu and colds. A good nutritional |
| current swine flu. This can create viral resistance so | | | | program and the right vitamins may actually be a much |
| the drug might not work well when we really need it. | | | | safer and healthier alternative to taking the swine flu |
| There have already been some reported cases of | | | | vaccination. |
| Tamiflu resistant flu. | | | | |