by Jennifer Spraggins

Created on: May 31, 2009

The H1N1 flu has many people across the United States worried that they will be the next one infected and a possible casualty of the disease. This is natural given the news that has surrounded the various cases around the US. Here are a few facts from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that should ease many concerns:

Of the 119.2 million people that visited the emergency room, the most common diagnosed conditions were injuries and poisoning.

Heart disease is still the leading cause of death in the U.S. (claiming approximately 631,636 lives)

While influenza/pneumonia is among the top ten diseases that lead to death, it has claimed only 56,326 lives (which is not a lot compared to the millions that live in the U.S.).

Should We Be Afraid, and if not, Why All of the Hype?

The H1N1 flu virus is a fairly new disease. As a result, vaccines have not been created to fight it, and according to the CDC, most people are not immune to the virus. The H1N1 flu virus is also communicable, and when exposed to a group of people (who are not immune), can spread quickly. While it functions like the seasonal flu, it is affecting different age populations than normal (children and young adults). It has claimed the lives of 62 children, which would scare most parents.

Socially, this is a disease that is believed to be spread from Mexico. Mexico has been the center of tension, ranging from the immigration issues to the practices of migrant workers in farms that have, in the past year, harbored contaminated foods that have been the object of recalls galore. The hygienic practices of the people of lower-income populations are already different from the practices here. So there is a fear that because of current migration patterns, this could potentially become a bigger problem than it already is. There were talks from officials in Mexico about shutting the nation down in order to prevent the spread.

Putting it in Perspective

At this point, people should not be afraid. The media has spun the real extent of the H1N1 flu virus out of proportion. There are political and social advantages to making it seem like a pandemic.

People have become slack about taking control of their health, and what better way to get people involved with their health than to create an epidemic? Current media has made this disease out to be an epidemic that the government is failing to control. This is far from true. There are still many things that the CDC wants to learn about the H1N1 flu virus. While people shouldn't panic over the H1N1 flu virus right now, they should still listen to what the CDC and health practitioners have recommended for preventing most illnesses and diseases: maintaining good hygienic practices, such as washing your hands, bathing regularly, etc., and getting regular flu vaccines. Eating healthy and exercising regularly assists in keeping the disease at bay.

Politically and socially, the U.S has had difficulty controlling who comes in and out of the nation. Mexicans have flooded into the nation looking for job opportunities and new life opportunities. Senator John McCain was the first to cry build the wall. This was a problem that solved two problems at once. Assure the American people that they are being protected by the government, and keep out people that have been perceived as a threat economically.

So, while people should be amply aware of how to protect themselves health-wise, they should also block out the extra noise.

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