Swine Flu Pandemic but No Coherent Policy
So there's a swine flu epidemic--soon to be a major pandemic. What better time not to have a cabinet level Secretary of Health and Human Services? What better time not to have a Surgeon General?
Do these positions actually make a difference? Well, I believe so. Having just witnessed Secretary of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano's press conference, I really want someone who knows something about health. Napolitano's policy pronouncements were contradictory and logically incoherent.
To the question if we were controlling our ports and airports to see that sick people didn't come into the country--as is being done in countries around the world--Napolitano said "No. Because the flu is already here and...people can carry it for up to three days without symptoms." Okay, that makes some sense.
Then when asked if we had plans to control our borders she said, "Yes." And went on to explain that if it got worse and was upgraded from level 3 to level 4 or 5, we had plans to close the borders.
So there is no point in closing or controlling the borders because it wouldn't help, but if it gets worse, we will???? Oy. Is there a doctor in the house?
©2009 Jonathan Dobrer
www.Dobrer.org
I mostly agree.
Don't know about anyone else, but I've totally pigged out on this. The reason the numbers are going up is because they're scaring everyone to death, and nine out of ten people, who would have waited it out, are going to the doctor and spreading their germs.
Anyone who's going to a doctor for other than the flu should stay home, because I can't think of a better way to get it. Oh, and you better use a wipie-dipie on your hands after opening the office door.
For my full take on this: "Is Swine Flu Hype, Hysteria or a Real Threat?"
http://digitaljournal.com/article/271609
Is it just me, or is it a bit early to start calling this a pandemic? There were around 100-200 cases in Mexico City, and a few other scattered around the United States and some other cities in the world. AIDS is a pandemic. Malaria and dysentery are pandemic in certain parts of the world. This is an epidemic, and despite the unfortunate loss of life in Mexico City, it is hardly the most threatening one to occur, even in recent years.
I did comment. So where is it? Is there a comment approval waiting period. I even put in a URL to a swine flu thing I published yesterday.
Oh, well. Maybe it'll pop up later.
Pathetic, simply pathetic way of handling things!!!