Swine Flu (I Hardly Knew Thee)

I'll just make this quick as I have to get back to studying here, but WTF is the deal with this Swine Flu shit?!

This is the email I just got from the The Office of the Chancellor here at the University of Illinois, Urbana:

"Because of ongoing concerns about the possibility of spreading the fluvirus, students receiving degrees and their families should not shakehands at Commencement if they have symptoms of an upper respiratoryinfection such as fever and cough.

McKinley Health Center will provide hand sanitizer on the platform at theAssembly Hall ceremonies so that graduates can, if they wish, use itbefore and/or after receiving their degrees. Members of the officialplatform party also are encouraged to use the hand sanitizer provided. Everyone is encouraged to observe the other guidelines to reduce the riskof infection, such as covering coughs and sneezes; avoiding touching eyes,mouth and nose; and washing hands frequently.

Robert D. Palinkas, M.D."

Here are some statistics that I found online on Swine Flu vs. Regular Influenza:

Swine Flu:

"There are 2532 cases and 3 deaths of Swine Flu or Pig Flu as of May 10 2009 in the USA."

-Source: http://pigflu.com/content/h1n1-swine-flu-statistics-united-states

Reglular Flu:

During week 17 (April 26 - May 2, 2009), One thousand eight hundred ninety-two (13.2%) specimens tested by U.S. World Health Organization (WHO) and National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS) collaborating laboratories and reported to CDC/Influenza Division were positive for influenza.

Also, 55 pediatric deaths were reported as of the week 15 ending April 18, 2009.

-Source: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/weeklyarchives2008-2009/weekly15.htm

Seriously people, stop buying into the hype!

Until next time,

-M-