I'm not worried about catching it (and mind you, working with kids means I am a sitting duck anyway)
But I'm sick and tired of the media sensationalising it. Each and every day we have to hear 'updates' on the swine flu --- it started with 60 people and is now upto a 1000 in the whole country. Oh my God, we're all going to die!!!!
Or at least, that's what the media seems to believe. Would you believe they have a reporter in each state to cover the news?
And this, for something that apparently is treated the same way as normal flu is.
No one has died yet. More people die of the normal flu. How come there is no hue and cry then?
The media seriously needs to think about what it's doing. It's creating panic.
And I guess I am pointing more to Channel 7, 10 and 9. The ABC and SBS are not sensationalising or dramatising it as much as the three commercial channels.
Anyway, just thought I'd start my day with a whinge! :)
Until next time,
Cheers!!!
:-) I gave up on news n media long long back.
ReplyDeleteThese days the news which is allover the place is "Dhongi ayaash baba" :D
Actually, Im not sure how it is there, but on Sunday I think I read that New York just had its 8th death caused by swine flu, so I think some of the fear is still around. Of course bailouts, Obama's visits, and the plane dissapearance has also taken over media space.
ReplyDeleteOquai took an exam this weekend, and the Institute had said a week prior that if the swine flu got really bad they would postpone it by a week! didnt happen though which is good.
I agree that it's always in the papers. But there is definitely a death toll from the swine flu, the highest being in Mexico with a 100+, if I'm not mistaken. I don't know, these kindsa viruses always create a stir, it's like when the SARS virus hit.
ReplyDeleteIt'll pass over. They've already invented a flu jab for people who show early symptoms, and if you catch it early enough you'll recover.
Hey...
ReplyDeleteIt seems that there is no apparent difference between Australian and Indian media...!
Anyway, Swine flu is under control and there are medicines available to fight against it! That's it for me ;)
@ Smita: I think I'm headed that way.
ReplyDelete@ SSQuo: Well, there have been no deaths here so far. But they have closed several schools, quarantining several people and it's just getting ridiculous. People are going to get sick due to the stress and worry at this rate...
@ Archana: If I remember right, in Mexico, initially they said 100 but then a week later they changed it to 7. (Apparently ppl came back from the dead!)
But on a serious note --- people die every day from the normal flu and I guess that's why I'm wondering what the hype is all about.
@ Amol: Hah...I think the media worldwide is the same. set out to dramatise and sensationalise because that's entertainment and apparently, that's what sells.
Really? I think it's definitely around a 100 cause that's what the WHO announced. Then again, I'm not some avid follower of the swine flu, lol, it's just splattered everywhere like you said. I was actually reading another person's blog, and they posted this hilarious picture of a dive bar in NYC that has a giant pig mascot...which was wearing a mask, lol.
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