Swine Flu Histrionics

Frequent outbursts of irrational hysteria are one of the human species most charming characteristics. Remember when the cows went mad a few years ago? That was an enjoyable one. “BSE has the potential to infect up to 10 million Britons” crowed one “scientific expert”. Then there was SARS – there was "a 25% chance of killing tens of millions" according to one “scientific expert”. Then there was bird flu – “it will be the first pandemic of the 21st century" said another “scientific expert”. "One in four Britons could die" said the World Health Organisation.

Now the world is going mad over “Swine Flu”. Swine flu – sounds sinister and dangerous. What is swine flu? As Simon Jenkins points out in today's Guardian, Swine flu is flu. If you get it you go to bed for a while and take some medicine. Then you get well again, unless you are very unlucky. A couple from the UK who caught the swine flu on holiday in Cancun are getting better. That tends to happen to people who get flu, however much it may disappoint the media.

Anyway, don’t let the facts prevent you from going barking mad and worrying about Swine Flu – humans love to go berserk for no reason. Join in the fun! Get yourself a face mask and a germ warfare suit! The “experts” will be hauled out in front of TV cameras to intone about how “500 billion people could die from this … so give me and the health organisations more money”.

Anyone for Sheep Flu?

(Of course, when Swine Flu becomes a global pandemic and millions of people die, I’m going to feel a bit guilty about writing the above post)