|
Sigh.
The media did not create the bird flu. The media is not responsible for periodic pandemic flu outbreaks over recorded human history. The media is not prompting hundreds if not thousands of scientists to warn that a flu pandemic is not only possible but likely at some point in the future. The media did not prompt the president to make drastic comments about the prospects of a flu pandemic.
That said, we're a number of big steps away from a flu pandemic. The virus would need to be come airborn to be a threat while retaining its potency. That's not a guarantee on either count. I don't know what the odds are that those two things will happen, but I think the odds are long.
On the one hand, I have faith that improved health conditions -- more sanitary conditions, better preventive care, greater public awareness -- will help to keep a pandemic in check. However, I'm more concerned that if a pandemic flu virus does emerge, we will have almost no ability to produce enough vaccine to protect at-risk populations much less the entire country.
|