H1N1 Influenza A

Come on, you knew I'd weigh in sooner or later.

Like everyone else I know, I'm tired of it. I'm going to devote 1 entry to it, say my piece, and move on. I suggest the rest of the world do the same.

I work in the healthcare field. I am constantly exposed to sick people, day in and day out. Perhaps I should be more concerned than I am, but... I'm just really not all that concerned. Remember when we were all worked up about bird flu a couple years ago? Remember how it was really not THAT BIG A DEAL in the end? Well folks, that's how I'm approaching swine flu.

Except we can't call it swine flu anymore, because that's causing people to get even more ridiculous. People are forgoing pork products, countries are banning import of pork products from areas affected by swine flu (don't worry, I'll stop using this term momentarily), and Egypt ordered all of its 300,000+ pigs to be slaughtered because ZOMG WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE... even though there has been NO LINK WHATSOEVER between eating pork and contracting swine flu. But since I can't call it swine flu anymore, and H1N1 Influenza A is such a mouthful (or a handful, when it comes to typing), the illness (which apparently causes fever, lack of appetite, coughing, and widespread hysteria, as well as a shortage of masks and hand sanitizer) shall henceforth be referred to as "bacon pox." (Oh, like that's any sillier than the "monkey pox" of 2003...)

Don't get me wrong, I think that awareness is a great thing. I also understand that it IS a serious concern for some - particularly people working in the healthcare field who are likely treating bacon pox patients, as well as individuals who may for whatever reason be immunocompromised. I don't (completely) intend to simply make light of the whole situation and suggest that we all run around licking each other's hands and faces. However, much of the panic is unnecessary if we all take some relatively minor precautions that we should all be taking on a regular basis anyway. Seriously folks. It's all the stuff we learned as children. Cover a cough. Wash your hands. Stay away from the general public when you're sick and contagious. Cook your food to the appropriate temperature. And stop seeking unnecessary pharmaceutical treatment. Yes, there are supplies of flu-fighting medications available. Leave them alone unless you legitimately have bacon pox (or some other form of the flu). Stop buying respirators from hardware stores - they aren't going to help. And most importantly, pull your head out of your rectum. It's full of germs.