Pigs Need Love, Too

I'm certainly not qualified to speak intelligently about the recent swine flu outbreak, which is why this will be a commentary that is only slightly related. Instead of discussing the swine flu directly, I would like to make a note of the hypocrisy that has become so apparent as a consequence of the swine flu.

There have been over 13,000 deaths attributed to the seasonal influenza virus in the first four months of 2009 alone. Most of those deaths are in the elderly and very young, but it is still a staggering number when compared to the 5000 cases and 100 deaths to date from the swine flu. Also, there are approximately 42,000 deaths each year as a consequence of car crashes, and about 40% of the crashes involve alcohol. Finally, speaking more globally, approximately 1,000,000 people die every year from malaria. This disease is almost exclusively transmitted by mosquitoes and, as a consequence, can be largely held at bay with mosquito nets. The problem is that most Africans, the people overwhelmingly afflicted, cannot afford such amenities.

As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, I cannot speak intelligently about the risks associated with the swine flu. Certainly it is always advisable to wash your hands after visiting the bathroom and cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough regardless of whether you believe you are infected with swine flu. However, there have been a total of 5000 cases worldwide, of which the U.S. and Mexico each have about 2000. Of those 2000 cases, there have been three deaths in the U.S. and 100 suspected deaths in Mexico. I've seen people walking around with masks covering their nose and mouth, which they have every right to do, but the significant majority of reported cases have been mild and those infected recover within a week.

There is no vaccine for this flu yet, which allows for the potential of a resurgence, but for now there is very little cause for concern in the U.S. Still, hundreds of schools have been closed across the nation and, at least at Purdue, people had been advised to stay home if they even suspect having flu-like symptoms. I want to reiterate that there have been three deaths in the U.S. attributed to this virus. Perhaps this is a consequence of the extreme caution being preached by media outlets and practiced throughout the country, but I expect that taking care not to pass germs by washing one's hands and covering one's mouth would have quelled this outbreak as well.

The point is that there are many things in the world that kill people that have proven to be more deadly than the swine flu, of which I have cited only three. People aren't panicked by the flu season approaching, reports of deaths in a car crash are routine, and malaria is never on the evening news. But a virus that has killed three people of 2000 infected is on everyone's mind because it's a new way for them to potentially die.

By the way, pork products will not give you swine flu. It is a misnomer.