Spring Break
H1N1: Pandemic or Mass Hysteria?
Vanessa Guerrero
Issue date: 5/13/09 Section: Opinion
Fear of the H1N1 virus, or swine flu, has begun to die down worldwide. Medical experts worked quickly to try and tame the virus before it became an international pandemic.
Footage of Mexican citizens wearing face masks were the daily top stories on major television networks, including CNN and Univision. Mexico City was the location where the virus was first detected, and the Mexican government immediately put plans into action.
Public places, like restaurants, theaters, soccer games and any social gatherings, were shut down until the spread of the virus was under control.
News reports from Mexican media outlets estimated losses of $88 million to Mexico City's economy as a result of the flu.
Experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were the first to raise alarm regarding the flu in the U. S. They claim that the H1N1 strain evolved from a mixture of the avian flu, human flu, and a flu common in pigs.
In Mexico City, 942 cases have been confirmed and from those cases, 29 deaths were reported. The CDC confirmed more cases in the U.S., but according to the agency, these cases were mild for the most part.
Mexico by far has been the center of attention regarding the virus. This has led countries - like China - to discriminate against Mexican citizens.
According to a New York Times article, Chinese authorities "confined" Mexican citizens in hotels without verifying if they in fact were infected with the virus and "escorted" others to hospitals to get tested for H1N1.
Sacramento State also created a plan of action to avoid H1N1 from hitting the campus community.
Kimberly Nava, Public Affairs news writer, said H1N1 cases have not been reported on campus.
"Once we heard of the H1N1 in Mexico, we organized on Sunday of last week to come up with a plan," Nava said.
Sac State's plan of action is mainly to inform students about how to prevent contracting the flu. Informational guides have been posted around campus for students and detailed information is also available on Sac State's Public Affairs website.
The symptoms of H1N1 are not that different than any other flu. Symptoms include high fevers, chills, vomiting, diarrhea, shortness of breath, head aches, dizziness, fatigue, muscle pain and possible death.
Contradictions regarding the severity of H1N1 continue to run in the news media. News reports shortly after the first cases in Mexico declared, "a pandemic is eminent." But later, reports from the New York Times explained that the flu was not as severe due to the low number of deaths.
However severe H1N1 was considered to be by medical experts, it does not compare to the deaths caused by the common flu. A Fox News report estimated that the common flu kills 36,000 people a year. Yet the common flu does not raise as much media concern as H1N1 has.
Fortunately for humanity, it seems that the H1N1 scare has abated. But we need to keep in mind that it can return in the future, possibly with more force, if people do not get educated about how to avoid contracting the virus.
So far, medical experts have been quick to determine the possible drastic effects that could result from the H1N1 if it becomes a pandemic, and they have expressed the need for countries to take the necessary precautions.
The steps to avoid the flu are simple. It is crucial to constantly keep up good hygiene, cover your mouth and nose when sneezing, and if symptoms are detected, staying home is the solution.
Sac State students need to not worry, since the campus has been clear from any signs of the virus.
Vanessa Guerrero can be reached at vguerrero@statehornet.com
Footage of Mexican citizens wearing face masks were the daily top stories on major television networks, including CNN and Univision. Mexico City was the location where the virus was first detected, and the Mexican government immediately put plans into action.
Public places, like restaurants, theaters, soccer games and any social gatherings, were shut down until the spread of the virus was under control.
News reports from Mexican media outlets estimated losses of $88 million to Mexico City's economy as a result of the flu.
Experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were the first to raise alarm regarding the flu in the U. S. They claim that the H1N1 strain evolved from a mixture of the avian flu, human flu, and a flu common in pigs.
In Mexico City, 942 cases have been confirmed and from those cases, 29 deaths were reported. The CDC confirmed more cases in the U.S., but according to the agency, these cases were mild for the most part.
Mexico by far has been the center of attention regarding the virus. This has led countries - like China - to discriminate against Mexican citizens.
According to a New York Times article, Chinese authorities "confined" Mexican citizens in hotels without verifying if they in fact were infected with the virus and "escorted" others to hospitals to get tested for H1N1.
Sacramento State also created a plan of action to avoid H1N1 from hitting the campus community.
Kimberly Nava, Public Affairs news writer, said H1N1 cases have not been reported on campus.
"Once we heard of the H1N1 in Mexico, we organized on Sunday of last week to come up with a plan," Nava said.
Sac State's plan of action is mainly to inform students about how to prevent contracting the flu. Informational guides have been posted around campus for students and detailed information is also available on Sac State's Public Affairs website.
The symptoms of H1N1 are not that different than any other flu. Symptoms include high fevers, chills, vomiting, diarrhea, shortness of breath, head aches, dizziness, fatigue, muscle pain and possible death.
Contradictions regarding the severity of H1N1 continue to run in the news media. News reports shortly after the first cases in Mexico declared, "a pandemic is eminent." But later, reports from the New York Times explained that the flu was not as severe due to the low number of deaths.
However severe H1N1 was considered to be by medical experts, it does not compare to the deaths caused by the common flu. A Fox News report estimated that the common flu kills 36,000 people a year. Yet the common flu does not raise as much media concern as H1N1 has.
Fortunately for humanity, it seems that the H1N1 scare has abated. But we need to keep in mind that it can return in the future, possibly with more force, if people do not get educated about how to avoid contracting the virus.
So far, medical experts have been quick to determine the possible drastic effects that could result from the H1N1 if it becomes a pandemic, and they have expressed the need for countries to take the necessary precautions.
The steps to avoid the flu are simple. It is crucial to constantly keep up good hygiene, cover your mouth and nose when sneezing, and if symptoms are detected, staying home is the solution.
Sac State students need to not worry, since the campus has been clear from any signs of the virus.
Vanessa Guerrero can be reached at vguerrero@statehornet.com
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Louis
posted 5/13/09 @ 1:35 PM PST
I think part of the problem is that the modern day American employer expects their workers to come in sick, even at the risk of contamination. Every time I call in sick, my boss still spends a good 20 seconds trying to talk me into coming in anyway. (Continued…)
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