Well, I know its been stated here by other cognizant commenters, but…. oh…I don’t know, maybe for “good measure” we should entertain THE FACTS.

From the New Republic:

“CDC estimated that about 36,000 people died of flu-related causes each year, on average, during the 1990s in the United States. This figure includes people dying from complications of flu. This estimate came from a 2003 study published in the Journal of the American Medication Association (JAMA), which looked at the 1990-91 through the 1998-99 flu seasons [10]. Statistical modeling was used to estimate how many flu-related deaths occurred among people whose underlying cause of death on their death certificate was listed as a respiratory or circulatory disease. During these years, the number of estimated deaths ranged from 17,000 to 52,000.”

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2240054/posts

However, according to the article..

” one in the United States, according to the World Health Organization.”  Are they spelling it out to make the number “1” appear to be… well, more than 1?  The word does have 3 letters as opposed to its numerical equivalent digit of…“1”.

So do you think this overblown rhetoric would “alarm” anyone?  Or make it “appear” more SERIOUS than it is to the unsuspecting public:

”“What the epidemiologists are seeing now with this particular strain”

“technically known as 2009 H1N1 virus”

“according to the World Health Organization.”

“there were no immediate plans to raise its alert to the highest level, Phase 6.” (Oh god, no… but let’s put PHASE 6 out there, we do after all live in the Star Trek dimension, I mean generation)

”“If you are seeing community outbreaks occur in multiple regions of the world,”

“confirmed 279 cases across 36 states—60 more than were confirmed the day before. Several states, including New York and Massachusetts, confirmed dozens more cases Monday that were not immediately added to the CDC tally.” (it’s really “out of hand” now… but don’t worry, because OBVIOUSLY all of us keep “influenza statistics on our “homepage” therefore are READILY AWARE of how stupid this is!)

”“This likely represents an underestimation of the total number of cases across the country,” he said, because not everyone with flu-like symptoms goes to the doctor and gets tested.”  (PHASE 6 alert…PHASE 6 alert!!!)

“The numbers are expected to increase. Dr. Anne Schuchat, the CDC’s interim deputy director”  (oh my god, that’s it….I’m shakin’... that was the INTERIM DEPUTY DIRECTOR!!!!)

“Mexico City will reopen government offices and restaurants Wednesday, and museums, libraries and churches Thursday as officials cited improvements in the battle”  (Get ready people!!!!! it’s a BATTLE!)

“stranded or quarantined because of the global swine flu outbreak.”

“The official could not say whether the two in Guangdong had been released, nor did she provide additional details.”  (it must be SERIOUS…..YOU’RE going to DIE….aaahhhh)

“U.S., residents gripped by concerns”

Is anyone wishing I would STOP ALREADY!!!?  Stupid, fabricated, alarmist, nonsense.  Although I must admit, I’m getting ever the more curious to see the bogus finale.

Yeah, well, let’s see. Remember 1918: a mild but very contagious flu appeared that spring, then went away over the summer. When it returned in the fall, not only was it still highly contagious, but it had somehow become far more deadly: by the end of its run, it had killed 70 to 100 million people worldwide.