Swine flu... Hype?

Do you have the H1N1 virus? Or better known by its other name, Swine Flu? As of Thursday, there were over 100 confirmed cases in the United States of this mutated strain of the otherwise common, seasonal Influenza virus. On Wednesday, sadly it was announced that the strain had taken the life of a 22 month old boy in Houston who was visiting from Mexico City.

Fort Worth ISD, amongst other school districts, have announced that it will be closing all schools until at least May 8^th, and the Interscholastic League has announced that all competitive sports have been suspended until May 11^th. All this due to a few cases dispersed throughout the state totaling 26 confirmed. Do they do this for the regular flu season?

When you turn on the television right now, the “swine flu pandemic” is the top story. Mexico has said they have found the origin of the flu to have been a 4 year old boy in Mexico, apparently the water supply to their home was contaminated by pigs, hence the name. Do not be confused, this virus can not be contracted through eating pork. You can still enjoy your Egg McMuffin or your Bacon Cheeseburger.

That is really not the story though. In 1976, there was another “swine flu pandemic” that erupted. At that time, then President Ford had asked Congress to approve the funding for a vaccination for the American public. Over forty million citizens were vaccinated until complications arose that halted the vaccinations. One death was attributed to the actual virus while dozens died from the vaccine and hundreds of others were left paralytic due to complications with the vaccine. Is this really worth the fuss right now? Each year during the flu season, over 30,000 people die from the flu, currently, although it still may be in its early stages, there are few known cases of the “swine flu”. Compared to that, it is really worth all the hype? In Mexico, where healthcare is nil in comparison to that of the United States, there have been almost 100 confirmed deaths due to the virus. People have been making the plea to close the US-Mexico border and halt all flights from Mexico to the United States, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has said that closing the border is unnecessary (mainly for commerce reasons) but she did agree to a five day halt on the incoming flights from Mexico. My view, the disease is already here, what’s the point now?

Beyond the hyping of this “pandemic,” this incident has turned into a very political one. Back in February during the “stimulus bill” debates and compromising, moderate Republican Senator Susan Collins from Maine proposed the cutting of $900 million that was to be for “pandemic flu preparations”. She wanted this funding stripped from the stimulus because she felt it was not a form of economic stimulus and it should be put into a different appropriations bill. That is what many liberals or democrats want to point out. Yet there is another voice that agreed with Sen. Collins and is quoted as saying, “All those little porky things that the House put in, the money for the [National] Mall or the sexually transmitted diseases or the flu pandemic, they're all out." That was Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat from New York, according to the New York Post on February 8, 2009.

This should not be about politics and it should not be about hyping up a virus to send the American people into a panic. Do yourself a favor, wash your hands and turn off the TV.