Agreed! However, I try to be polite to my friends in government and journalism.

There have been, at last substantiated report, only 8 deaths. That’s a very small sample set upon which to base any predictions.

Also, there is only a supposition that the apparently anomalous demographic of the Mexican fatalities is a result of a “cytokine storm” reaction, which is not that uncommon of a reaction in the 1st place.

As I noted earlier, non-Swine flu has an 18% mortality rate in the US. So far Swine flu only has a 6% mortality rate.

While a certain level of concern is in order, this is being heavily pushed for no valid reason at all.

Of course a certain amount of cynicism is in order. I always bare a certain “controlled interest” when watching the news (generally, I avoid TV news for its shallowness and high need for alarmism).

Paradigm’s point is valid. Part of the concern of the medical community is the “potential”. Additionally, and what makes this strain more alarming, is the spread of those killed. The number of the solidly healthy, non-child or aged, that are in the stats is what provides the most concern. That piece alone implies a certain severity lacking in other flu strains.

The public sector always walks a fine line with these events. Under-react and face public castigation. Over-react, and the public doesn’t respond when things are serious. And the media, oh the media! There are several bright spots in the “news” sector. However, many are pretty people whose only skill is reading a script.

So far this variant of H1N1 seems no more virulent than any other normal influenza strain. It’s actually less so since it’s had a 6% mortality rate worldwide and influenza averages an 18% mortality rate in the United States despite all of our medical ability.

I don’t think the media hype and the fear-mongering is about “what might happen” so much as it is about “what they can get out of it.”