There’s a lot of talk of overreaction on the part of governmental officials and the World Health Organization(WHO) regarding the virus formerly known as Swine Flu. Many are now skeptical that there was even cause for alarm or think groups with sinister intentions concocted the whole thing. “It was just the governments trying to scare people”, “they were trying to divert attention from the economic crisis”, plus the ever present wackadoodle conspiracy theorists talking about the virus being manufactured to thin the world’s population, transnational medical companies trying to scare up big profits, FEMA concentration camps and a host of other bilge and bs.
Do I think they overreacted? No! It was(is) a novel strain that was(is) killing those in the healthiest age groups, those 20-50 years old. When had this occurred before? In all three 20th century pandemics(1918, 1957, and 1968). It began in a country that is a popular spot for vacationers from all over the world and spreads somewhat easily from person to person. Overreacted? No, I think they were truly scared.
Now to what scares me. Research has shown that each 20th century pandemic began with a “herald wave”, a less lethal, widespread round of influenza that occurred in the months prior to the onset of each pandemic, mainly the preceding early to late spring. Could this have been Swine’s herald wave? It remains to be seen. This is why I’m concerned about the upcoming fall and winter flu season. Apathy , skepticism and scare mongering will only make matters worse.
If this was indeed a herald wave, then there’s a distinct possibility that we’re going to have some real serious problems come fall and winter.
