All cases outside of Mexico have been mild. Unless there's some freak mutation that ends up happening, this thing is overrated.

Until the media can figure out a way to be profitable without sensationalizing everything they will continue to do so. News is a business and getting people scared or otherwise emotionally tied to stories is the best way to get people to watch. Its their only means of survival. Personally I believe that the only way to get sensationalization out of reporting is to make all of the media into non profit organizations. Commentators could remain for profit but they would have to announce that they are just giving their opinion not actually reporting the facts.

I truly hope it peters out (or continues to peter out)

Half of you admit to Jon Stewart being one of your primary sources of news. That's all well and good - but all he does is tailor his tone and content towards yet another type of biased audience. I think it's less about you guys wanting an NPR-like "just the facts" service and more that you want news tailored to your values.

An issue that keeps coming up is the idea of closing the U.S.-Mexico border. Already at various border crossing points, customs authorities are having people who appear sick taken to a secondary inspection area for further evaluation. More systematic monitoring at border crossing and airports such as mouth swabs has been proposed.

Is that a good strategy? I would argue that it is not. The U.S.-Mexico border is one of the busiest in the world with millions of people and goods crossing each day. Many items that we routinely use in the United States are produced in Mexico and closing the border would have a crippling effect to the United States.

For example, in the event of a serious flu outbreak in this country there would be a need for mechanical ventilator deployments to hospitals. The national stockpile has sufficient ventilators, but the necessary circuits that are needed to operate them are not produced in the United States but in Mexico, so having them come across to this country is critical for taking care of critically ill patients in the United States.

You can't blame the media for being good at producing content that people consume.

Better call the next outbreak the, "Radical Islamic Terrorist Flu" and see if that works.

A 12-year-old student in the district has tested positive for having the virus, according to district officials. Three other students are listed as "probable" for having it. Nearly 80,000 students will be out of school through at least May 8, Fort Worth ISD spokesman Clint Bond said. The closures came at the recommendation of the Tarrant County Health Department, he said.

...
Also on Wednesday, the University Interscholastic League suspended all athletic and academic events until after May 11, meaning athletes, musicians and students competing in other activities cannot attend planned statewide events.

The cancellations and school closings come at a busy time in the school year, when TAKS tests are scheduled, and field trips, major competitions and end-of-year activities are typical.

By Wednesday afternoon, several local districts had banned out-of-district field trips and other activities.

School districts also took a range of steps to protect their students. Highland Park ISD is not letting outside groups rent its facilities. And the McKinney school district has canceled more than a dozen field trips. Carroll ISD suspended student travel, performances, and faculty and staff trips until further notice.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that school districts close campuses if one student is confirmed to have swine flu.

But some school districts aren't taking any chances.

The Lewisville school district closed Hebron Valley Elementary after three students were identified as possibly carrying the virus.

And before deciding to close all its schools late Wednesday, Fort Worth ISD had closed four campuses because each had a probable case of swine flu.

Yeah, I always want to fucking punch people in the face when they come in to the library all sick and coughing and sneezing.

The worst is when some mother brings in her 3-4 sick kids all at once, and all they're doing is checking out some DVD's or something. I mean, why the fuck are you bringing your army of little plague carriers to a public place for no good reason? Grr.

And the other one is the ass that comes to work sick as hell thinking he's being a trooper or something working while sick. Hi...go home you are sick. I don't want to be spraying out both ends for 3 days, thanks. Hospitals are full of employees like that; coming in sick as all hell to show how tough they are or to not let the team down....Meanwhile they get already sick patients sicker and get co-workers sick, reducing an already short staff to a skeleton crew.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=p&msa=0&msid=106484775090296685271.0004681a37b713f6b5950&ll=32.639375,-110.390625&spn=15.738151,25.488281&z=5

Live google map of the outbreak.

Yeah, I always want to fucking punch people in the face when they come in to the library all sick and coughing and sneezing.

The worst is when some mother brings in her 3-4 sick kids all at once, and all they're doing is checking out some DVD's or something. I mean, why the fuck are you bringing your army of little plague carriers to a public place for no good reason?

This is a choice you make, not anything anyone can force on you.

Joe Biden: Idiot.

Could not have said it better myself.

Apparently media sensationalism includes everything under the sun. Omg, they had a banner that said "SWINE FLU 09" in the background, they're sensationalizing it! Omg, scary urgent music! Sensationalism!

Which part? I thought he summed it up quite well, and it's rather smart advice(of course we don't know the severity of the flu at this point for absolute certain, but it's still not a bad thing to keep in mind when we're dealing with a rather unique strain). That's one of the things I like about Joe Biden - he's honest and he'll give it to you straight up. He was specifically asked what he would tell his family, and he said probably exactly what he told his family to do.

He didn't say "OMGAH don't ever travel on planes or busses ever", he said it might be a good idea to take a different mode *if* you don't really need to take that kind of transportation. It's not as if it was an official advisory, he was merely giving his personal opinion and what he personally would do.

Well, I dunno about the news where you live...but my local news here in Florida kept referring to it as a, "Killer Pandemic" and such. Had news spots about how you needed to protect your family from the "Killer Swine Flu".

Which, strictly speaking is true I guess. But it's all about the presentation, I suppose. If this is the, "Killer Global Pandemic"...what do we call it when something really IS truly dangerous?

Newp, he shouldn't have said what he said period. Especially when the health officials and the president are singing a different tune. In the end, he is an image of authority and his word is important and will be heard and followed, so it shouldn't conflict from what the President is suggesting people to do. Especially when it can potentially affect transportation businesses for no real reason.

It has also nothing to do with honesty, these people know how to answer questions dishonestly when they have to, this was a fuck up on his part. If it hadn't been he wouldn't have taken the train home a day after saying his comments.

While I do not think we are talking about the end of the world, how can people not be taken back a bit by this?

I am seriously consdering reducing my investments right now.

On one hand, I don't want to overreact. On the other hand, this thing is spreading. It is a lot more communicable than the bird flu.

You're retarded for watching the local news. Seriously. Do you watch Judge Judy, too?

Wow, Jox, that was a stellar point.

Well I'm swayed. No more local news for me!

While I do not think we are talking about the end of the world, how can people not be taken back a bit by this?

Why would we be taken back by this?