Michael Braun's Blog

That’s what CNN is reporting, in an effort to seize upon backlash from its yellow journalism reporting of swine flu. Yes, CNN first made swine flu out to be a rampant strain of flu bent on killing millions (I would like to see someone compare their reporting on swine flu to their reporting on terrorism – the two can’t be that different). Then, when swine flu seemed to be well-contained, CNN reports on how maybe the threat was overblown.

Aside from shabby reporting, let’s consider the possibility that the reports of swine flu were overblown. Isn’t it possible that the threat was very real, but a superb international reaction to the threat has kept it contained? First, hats off to Mexico for reporting the problem quickly. That’s something that China failed to do with SARS (another hyped virus). Second, cheers to the WHO for quick response. Third, cheers to the USA for keeping us up to date on what was going on. Fourth, well done, Wisconsin Governor Doyle, for taking quick action. We’ve had cases in Wisconsin – Milwaukee mostly – and schools were shut down quickly because of it. Thus, it is imaginable that quarantine worked wonders. Finally, hats off to the University of Wisconsin, which has kept us students well-informed throughout this whole thing.

So maybe the threat was serious, meaning CNN did a good job reporting on it, but because of all the hype and hysteria, people were actually kept safer, governments responded more quickly, and the world avoided a health disaster. If that’s the case, then CNN’s most recent reporting is the height of irresponsibility. If the danger still lurks, then it is quite dangerous to start reporting on those who say it’s no big deal (or worse, a political ploy to get Obama’s HHS secretary confirmed).

Whatever the truth is, I’m not especially concerned about swine flu, though evidently US emergency rooms have been hopping lately, with lots of people who sneezed and then called an ambulance. With scientists reporting that this strain of flu looks less dangerous than regular, seasonal flu, there seems little reason for worry. On the other hand, regular flu kills 10,000s of people every year. The flu is nothing to trifle with, no matter what CNN says.