Quote:
Originally Posted by cacophony
admittedly i don't have the energy to read this whole thread, and i'm sure there are awesome little tidbits sprinkled throughout, but why should anyone apologize for making statements on the origin of this virus? life isn't like CSI, the CDC doesn't walk onto the scene of a breakout and know everything instantly. it's going to be a long time before this thing is fully understood. anyway, i'm probably responding to something that wasn't intended as i read it.
i'm concerned that people are becoming cynical about the warnings and preparation and press coverage now that the virus is proving to be less deadly than we feared. like because the worst didn't happen we should blame the government or media or whathaveyou for "fearmongering." just seems like the way the wind is blowing. but the fact is, there was no way of knowing in the beginning how serious this new illness would be. based on reports of deaths and a very rapid spread it made sense to mobilize the way everyone did. still, it just seems like that cynicism is out there on the horizon. we didn't all die, so why did we bother caring?
the way these viruses typically work, it will be back next fall and it will actually be worse and harder to fight off. i just hope we haven't decided this was a "cry wolf" situation here and decide to ignore the warnings next flu season.
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For me, the problem is that reporting on this was blown out of proportion to the point that it's probably hurt more people than the flu itself has.
The pork industry - which has zero chance of actually spreading the H1N1 flu - has taken a big hit,
entire pig farms are being culled, and in Egypt,
Christian pig farm owners are even having to physically fight off those who would force them to unnecessarily destroy their livelihoods. So while I agree that it's worthwhile to be cautious and prepare for the worst just in case, the reporting has been sensationalized to an unreasonable extent, and has single-handedly caused an unreasonable, damaging and dangerous panic around the entire globe - all in the name of having that attention-grabbing lead story every day whether it's warranted or not.