I have been reading with concern the extended print media coverage on swine flu. I am sure the visual media will be milking this for all it is worth asking inane and heartless questions to victims families such as how do you feel, was the treatment right, etc. Instead of being responsible and presenting a balanced and rational view on H1N1 – we have all kinds of negative publicity doing the rounds. Politicians have now stepped in and are using the SMS service to give their two bits on how to avoid getting the flu!
Questions asked by the visual media just help in fanning already insecure minds into rushing for H1N1 testing to already over crowded and inadequately manned testing centers. Our population is such that only large numbers will be generated – more people die on the roads than of swine flu. Out of a populace of nearly 1.25 billion people just a thousand odd have got the flu – and a few have unfortunately died – this does not mean the whole nation goes into a panic and states like Tamil Nadu giving travel advisories to its citizens not to travel to other states – now it is learnt Tamil Nadu also has claimed its first swine flu victim! Now what – does this mean no one should travel to Tamil Nadu? Everybody seems to be going off at the deep end. It looks more like a “panicdemic” than a potential pandemic! It is so funny and at the same time sad to see people behaving in a herd mentality and wearing face masks while walking on the roads, riding bikes, sitting inside air conditioned cars, hanging out of running trains etc. It has been mentioned that it is people who have a slight cold who need to cover their faces and not perfectly normal people – unaffected people while wearing the masks have apparently a greater chance of becoming infected!
At the same time the commercial sharks are out – the pharmacies are doing roaring business in face masks – the much touted N-95 (no no not nokia’s high end mobile) masks are being sold at ridiculous prices – Rs. 500 - because the masses have been told through the media that this mask can protect you from the big bad germ. Nothing like a good public scare to send the masses into a frenzy while rationality goes for a toss.
St. Peters School, Panchgani, should be the perfect example for those who need to know how such situations should be tackled. 17 students were diagnosed with the infection and the school acted coolly and calmly while isolating those who tested positive and keeping 15 other students with similar symptoms but with a negative test result in another room – these students were treated and are back to normal without any panic either amongst the students, parents or teachers. Some lessons need to learnt and imbibed by the media – I think they should go to this school to learn to behave rationally!
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2 comments:
Yes,but one thing comes out clear as expected.Inspite of having 3 mths clear notice,the authorities have not moved on a scale required for a pandemic.
The media could hv covered the screening process in the last 3 mths at the airports if they were into serious media business.But even they are driven commercially.
Yes you are right. Its too much of H1N1. Everyone specially the media is talking about it as if it is #1 killer.
I am worried that if it goes like this then all of our hospitals will have long queue outside all for flue checkup and some will die of accidents and in the course some true victims will die of not getting appointements.
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