Respecting the Swine flu should not cause panic
Kaitlin Laubscher
Issue date: 5/1/09 Section: Opinion
In a heavily populated country like the United States, germs and diseases spread quickly through everyday human contact. This is especially dangerous when constantly mutating and difficult-to-treat strains of influenza emerge.
The paranoia that swept the nation during 2007's avian bird flu scare made its return to North America this week in the form of a new strain of the Swine flu, according to CNN.com. New York has been hit the hardest in the United States, with 51 reported cases so far, according to CNN.com. Just today, The Buffalo News reported two cases in Chautauqua County.
On a small, close-knit campus like St. Bonaventure, germs are spread easily. Simple gestures like washing your hands often or covering your mouth when you cough can help to stop the spread of the flu.
Such an epidemic needs to be taken seriously since it is so easily spread from person to person. However, it is important to remember not to overreact to an epidemic like this because that would only cause panic. No quick-spreading and contagious disease should be underestimated, especially the Swine flu, but it's necessary to keep a reasonable mindset to avoid chaos.
The paranoia that swept the nation during 2007's avian bird flu scare made its return to North America this week in the form of a new strain of the Swine flu, according to CNN.com. New York has been hit the hardest in the United States, with 51 reported cases so far, according to CNN.com. Just today, The Buffalo News reported two cases in Chautauqua County.
On a small, close-knit campus like St. Bonaventure, germs are spread easily. Simple gestures like washing your hands often or covering your mouth when you cough can help to stop the spread of the flu.
Such an epidemic needs to be taken seriously since it is so easily spread from person to person. However, it is important to remember not to overreact to an epidemic like this because that would only cause panic. No quick-spreading and contagious disease should be underestimated, especially the Swine flu, but it's necessary to keep a reasonable mindset to avoid chaos.
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