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I agree that there's importance on being aware.
"Hey, a new strain of flu seems to be spreading out of Mexico, if you are experiencing flu symptoms it is more important this year that you get checked out sooner than you might otherwise."
That's helpful.
"Oh my god, Dr. Sanjay Gupta is the end of the world really upon us!!!!!!!! How many millions (dare we say billions?????) of people will be dead before this horror is over!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!??!?!??!?!?!??!?!?!?!??!?!?! ?!??!. Also, some might say that our American audiences may want to go wait for the first serious domestic case of Swine Flu before panicking. Maybe even for a death. But wouldn't you agree that it is never too soon for hyteria?! Please hold your answer until after this commercial break. After you answer we'll somehow link this to an Anderson Cooper piece on the perils of eating smoked monkey meat."
That's not so much helpful. And that's pretty much what I've been seeing on CNN (haven't watched any Fox recently) since Friday before there was any significant official information from health agencies.
40,000 people per year already die of influenza each year in this country. While I'm glad the health agencies are on it and I'm glad I'm aware of the issue I just can't get worked up about it until there is more evidence that this strain will cause even a 10% fluctuation in that number and until then the level of coverage (and the tone particularly) seems comicly excessive.
And it does wear you down. How many people pay attention any more to the occasional "2 cases of Nile virus infections reported in Contra Costa county; death is upon us again" any more?
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