swine flu hysteria

by Juliana

Swine flu, also known as H1N1, is on the rise and quickly spreading.  It's coming back and surely going to be with us for awhile. Doctors are getting sick ones from every walk of life, from young to old alike.  Staff and health care workers are being vaccinated from the swine flu.  I am very fortunate to not have gotten it and know of anyone who has it.  But I know that it's spreading fast. It's a very frightening disease which can strike anybody at any age.

The swine flu has become a major epidemic in America.  Not only in the U.S. but also throughout the world.  Disease knows no national boundaries.  Political and health care leaders are holding conferences trying to educate people as well as sharing information with health care professionals.  The reason for this is to learn from each other and give the highest care for all patients.  If we all take note of what is being said and learn from our health officials we should slow down the epidemic.

Doctors are putting young and pregnant women toward the beginning of the list.  Then they are putting healthy ones lower on the list.  That means healthy people are at a higher risk to die.  To me, that suggests that there is a bias.  When they are favoring the sick over the healthy, there could be unintended consequences.  Yet, the greatest unintended consequence is fear.

We all play the character role in this situation.  People are scared to be around people who are coughing. People are staying indoors.  After awhile, it begins to look like the movie "Bubble Boy." People are blaming one another - especially Mexico (even though it's a global epidemic). Apparently the disease was spread from Mexico to the U.S. and so now people are finding ways to scapegoat Latinos.

In the long run, that might be the biggest danger.  A few people may die, but the lasting consequences will be fear.  The answer is simple.  Stay clean if you want to keep away from the swine flu. Get check-ups from the doctors.  Get vaccinated.  Live a healthy lifestyle and if you get it, you'll probably be okay.