As we all know from the recent spread of reports, the possibility of a swine flu pandemic is causing many people around the world to feel an extraordinary amount of anxiety. This couldn't make more sense, seeing as the World Health Organization reports that there are 659 confirmed cases of the virus in 16 different nations, including Canada, Spain, Germany, and South Korea. The US has already reported 161 cases, seven of which are in New Jersey. (See more stats at http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/05/02/swine.flu/index.html.) Who wouldn't feel at least a bit worried?
Yet a second CNN article (http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/05/02/swine.flu.schools/index.html?eref=rss_topstories) indicates that a high school in Texas was so worried that swine flu might spread throughout the school that, despite the fact that none of its students had reported anything yet, it postponed its senior prom, much to the dismay of some students. Yes, Texas has already reported 28 cases of the virus, but as the student cited in the article asks, was this action truly necessary? No one is complaining that precautionary measures are being taken; it's just that there is a fine line between precaution and paranoia. How do we define where this line lies? Clearly each person is at his or her own discretion, but what happens when some people seem to be taking things a bit too far?
What prompted me to write about this issue was actually a comment which my mom made this morning. She noted that the whole world seems to be overly concerned about swine flu, and then she said, "At this rate, this is going to turn into a witch hunt!" I was immediately reminded of the Salem Witch Hunt of the Puritan period and thus began to wonder if my mom's comment, simply made in passing, actually has a deeper significance. Is the current situation on its way to becoming a hysterical "witch hunt" after those who cough as they say that they returned from a trip to Mexico, or are our extreme anxiety and paranoid precautions entirely justified?
(Janet Lee)
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6 comments:
Personally, I think that this is getting a bit out of hand. I remember hearing my homeroom teacher mention once that another teacher wouldn't let one student stay in the classroom because he went to Mexico over spring break.
But then again, it's a matter of personal opinion. Even if all these precautions may seem unnecessary to some, other will see it as just being cautious. Until people start taking precautions that are more extreme, I don't think that this will be seen as hysteria, just over precaution.
My parents and I were talking about this the other day. My mom said that someone had mentioned to her that the hysteria going on stemmed from an artificial setup used by the government to distract us from our current economic state. I laughed when she said this, but honestly...you never know.
I'd just like to point out that the flu...is common. I know that may seem ridiculous now, but it's true. The swine flu has been blown out of proportion, I think, because it comes from outside, from a foreign country. And here's some food for thought: Is it just me, or does the general population usually have a negative connotation tied around Mexico's sanitary standards? Just curious.
Anyway, this is important:
Each flu season is unique, but it is estimated that, on average, approximately 5% to 20% of U.S. residents get the flu, and more than 200,000 persons are hospitalized for flu-related complications each year. About 36,000 Americans die on average per year from the complications of flu.
(http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/disease.htm)
So why the big commotion NOW?
(Sam Maliha)
Well one reason that this flu has been able to be blown out of proportion is that it has a specific name. Swine Flu. Everything else we call the common flu. It implies that the situation is under control and no big deal. With the swine flu some are being overly precautionary, true, some have the right. If you are having health dificuties then yes, you should probably stay away from people who cough a tad too much. But, honestly, some people need to calm down.
I was listening to the news the other day and they were talking about the effects on people who had swine flu. Most of them had stomach cramps for a couple days and then went back to everyday activities. Another reason that this has caused paranoia is because of the media constantly telling us that we are near the level of "pandemic".
To answer Sam, I think that there has been negotive connotations with Mexico and their sanitation systems which makes this situation seem more dangerous. Misconception: Since Mexico has a bad public water system, then the swine flu is more dangerous than any other flu. Maybe I'm being too harsh on those who are afraid of getting swine flu because I never get sick (knock on wood). Overreacting is probably better than undereracting in a situation like this: Better safe than sorry.
(Kelley Volosin)
In reference to the Kelley's point about the flu actually having an understood title: Swine Flu...
I know this is probably odd, but people just poke fun at the flu now. The second someone coughs, people yell out, "SWINE FLU!" and pretend to duck for cover. No one used to yell out, "FLU!" and then proceed to duck for cover. So, why now? And I think we've covered the major points. When we give something a name, it's real...it becomes part of history. I mean, we even name hurricanes and tornadoes!
(Sam Maliha)
I realize that this is a little off topic, but this whole discussion makes me think of the debate on whether you are innocent until proven guilty, or guilty until proven innocent. In this case, it's a debate of whether to let a potentially guilty person go free, or to hold a potentially innocent person in jail. Which is preferable? Similary, with the swine flu, would you rather allow everyone into school, including potentially sick people, or would you rather be overcautious and either cancel school or not allow a select few people to come, even if they might end up being healthy? In both cases, life might be on the line. In both cases, the potential loss of life might be avoidable. But just as the guilty/innocent until proven innocent/guily debate will never end, I do not think the other will end in the near future either.
Emily T.
Well, like the flu, hysteria itself is contagious. And unfortunately, its effects can prove more detrimental than any flu.
Whether or not swine flu is the next "pandemic" that will kill millions, there's already been quite an uproar about it. And when people start to perceive the flu as some dealy pathogen that must be avoided at all costs, it might as well be one. Some business analysts have pointed out that whether or not swine flu is as deadly as it is supposed to be, it will still leave a significant impact on the world economy.
Overreactions are everywhere. Right here in Moorestown, the "swine flu" a few students in the middle school had turned out to be nothing more than ordinary flu. In Egypt, the authorities have decided to kill the millions of pigs there, despite the role the pigs play in maintaining public hygiene (they eat all of the trash in the street). Unfortunately, as Emily pointed out, sometimes the whole "guilty/innocent" game comes into play. Already countries have begun to blame Mexico for the flu, when in fact it has been circulating around the world for years.
-Eric W
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