Patient zero

Why is the media getting so excited about swine flu? We had the same pandemic ‘scares’ about Asian flu, or bird flu, and SARS, but the media are having even more of a field day with this one.
While it is understandable that countries would want to stop the spread by vetting passengers arriving from Mexico in particular, because it was the source of the current global health scare, the amount of air space dedicated to Swine flu is being over done.
It is taking up large chunks of news bulletins, when the content could have been delivered as a short item.
Besides, the advice being given is rather comical. First of all, no one should panic. So why the hype? Then the coup de grâce is the advice to wash our hands and stop kissing “in public”.
As for Dr Sanjay Gupta chasing “Patient zero” for CNN, pleeease! It turned out to be a very healthy looking child who seems to have had a complete recovery.
In fact, even in Mexico only seven people are said to have “definitely” died from Swine flu.