by Judy Mosca

Created on: May 07, 2009   Last Updated: May 10, 2009

Vice President Biden was a guest on NBC's Today show on April 30, 2009 and was asked by the host, What advice would you give to a family member who was considering flying to Mexico? The following was his response:

I would tell members of my family, and I have, I wouldn't go anywhere in confined places now. It's not that it's going to Mexico, it's in a confined aircraft. When one person sneezes, it goes all the way through the aircraft, that's me. If you're out in the middle of a field and someone sneezes, that's one thing. If you're in a closed aircraft, or a closed container, a closed car, a closed classroom, it's a different thing.

Vice President Biden was criticized for inciting public panic and causing undue alarm. He is also being criticized that his advice was not based on proven scientific facts. Well, he wasn't asked to give advice based on scientific facts, his answer was simply his perspective. Now the whole episode has become a controversy.

It's a controversy all right, one wrongly created by certain members of the media. Government officials, diligently made efforts to correct or explain the Vice President's real intent. Look again at the question and the answer, it was about advice to his family. Speaking calmly but with conviction, he clearly stated what he considered to be prudent actions to protect their health as much as possible. He wasn't telling America what to do or even hinting at it. One should be asking, what part of 'advice to family' do they not understand?

Flu, by any name, is contagious and those at a higher risk are the very young and the elderly. Every flu season, warnings are publicized citing the precautions we should take to help prevent us becoming ill. One warning is not to be in close proximity to someone who is ill. Today it was said the 'breathing zone' is 3 to 6 feet. Are we not violating the 'breathing zone' by being on planes, and in cars and classrooms with people who may be ill? Aren't we closer than 3 feet in these locations?

Nineteen states, to date, have reported cases of the Swine Flu within their borders. Schools have been closed to be disinfected, hopefully preventing further outbreaks. The World Health Organization, (WHO) has raised the threat alert level to #5 on a scale of #6. Obviously this is serious and exhibits the potential to escalate to a pandemic status.

Homeland Security is distributing gloves and masks to the states with outbreaks. Their guidance for children whose schools have been closed

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