Swine Flu Panic-demic?

Swine Flu is no joke, at least to those who've caught it.

The Swine Flu Panic-demic now spreading across the media is a colossal joke.

As serious as the disease is, why is it over 100,000 Americans who die each year from "regular" flu get no ink or sound bites? Why are people rushing out to purchase generally useless patent medicine remedies for a disease that has no vaccine, no generally efficacious treatment, and which appears to be less-serious a threat to health than driving to and from work?

Things are so bad that Smithfield Foods, owners of the Smithfield Ham trademark and a major pork supplier, has had to go on a public relations campaign to stem the backlash against eating pork. And Chinese restaurants in California report a 20-30% drop in sales because people erroneously assume they might catch the disease from eating pork dishes. Despite the name, Swine Flu can only be spread between humans, and can't be caught from food. By law, Chinese restaurants in California must use frozen pork anyway which kills most pathogens.

Don't expect the hysteria to recede anytime soon. Dr Margaret Chan, head of the World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that "all humanity is under threat" because the virus has crossed species in at least two countries.

If there's one "silver lining" from all the Swine Flu hysteria, it's that we're spending less time worrying about the stock market and the recession.

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