Swine Flu is all over the news lately and for good reason; some people are even wondering if the swine flu is cause for panic; others venturing so far as to define the swine flu as the next world pandemic.
My kids came home the other day telling me about a “new” sickness describing the swine flu; something that was being taught as a current event. My youngest, who is in elementary school, went so far as to tell me about her aches and pains over the last couple of days, questioning me as to whether I thought it could be the swine flu or maybe even that bird flu she heard about! I took her by the hand, like I do when her imagination gets the best of her, and we went to the computer and did a quick search for swine flu, more so to help her understand the reality of this new health concern.
I most definitely applaud the school’s effort to educate my kids on our latest health concern and I too remember the scare that was caused by the Bird flu (2006), Hantavirus (2006), and Ebola (2004). Moreover and not to contradict the seriousness of the swine flu or any other disease, natural or otherwise, my concern is only that as individuals, we need to educate ourselves before a pandemic of misinformation is created due to he said/she said, or I heard/s/he heard, nonsense; or what I like to call a propaganda endemic.
If one peruses the web or reads the local, regional, and/or national newsprint media, there are constant updates on the most recent and/or probable swine flu cases in the U.S. Again and not to undermine the seriousness of the swine flu or any other infectious disease, information is our best defense right now. Learning about the most recent cases of those suspected to have, or have been exposed to, the swine flu; the signs and/or symptoms of the swine flu, and what government authorities and world officials are doing in preparation for, prevention of, and/or treatment of, the swine flu becoming a pandemic, is paramount.
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