Friday February 17, 2012

JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION

Flu overhyped? Some say officials 'cried swine'

By Lindsey Tanner

Commentary May. 10, 2009 - 05:05AM JST ( 12 )

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12 Comments

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OssanAmericaMay. 10, 2009 - 07:43AM JST

Yes, it's not "dire or rampant" in the US. Doesn't mean we're complacent or not concerned about the next flu season in he fall. But it's not dire. So Japan do you want to wake up and take notice or are you convinced that you can scare the daylights out of everyone in the country so that they don't think about the economic situation?
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NijikMay. 10, 2009 - 07:45AM JST

Bingo... a bit of common sense :)
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some14someMay. 10, 2009 - 07:55AM JST

So Japan do you want to wake up and take notice or are you convinced that you can scare the daylights out of everyone in the country so that they don't think about the economic situation?

Aso Cabinet is fully awake and they want to create favorable Election environment by focusing on 'new type influenza', economy situation? that is US problem.
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sydenhamMay. 10, 2009 - 08:34AM JST

Do you really think people are being hoodwinked by the LDP? Do you guys actually talk to real living Japanese people or what?

The flu scare made the economy worse. How does that help Aso? The LDP doesn't run TBS and all the other TV stations guys, sorry to burst your bubble. I know you like conspiracies but the fact is that the media smelled profit in a hot button issue, and they pushed it and pushed it and... still, the economy is in the headlines.

I had lunch with a bunch of Japanese friends yesterday, and the flu got about 2 minutes of talk time vs. about a half hour for the economy, salary cuts and ways to save money etc.

Anyway, the real issue is that Cinco de Mayo was cancelled in New York. Who cares? It's not even a real holiday in Mexico. Why do Americans care so much about it? Maybe it keeps their minds off the economy?

Get real!
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elbudamexicanoMay. 10, 2009 - 10:54PM JST

That is funny, I read that the 5 de Mayo festivities in NYC were held just as always, is this over hyped?? I rather be safe than sorry.
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OssanAmericaMay. 11, 2009 - 12:47AM JST

In New York City, some events were cancelled but the parade was not.
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fdsMay. 11, 2009 - 10:58AM JST

better safe than sorry. imo, the fact that a number of people have died from this flu and its new variety that nobody has antibodies for justify the hype. what i'm worried about now is mutuations and next flu season in the northern hemisphere.
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tkoind2May. 11, 2009 - 12:37PM JST

1918 should teach us something. The flu appeared in a mild form in the spring and then returned mutated to a more destructive form that killed millions in the Fall.

I believe "better prepared that sorry" makes perfect sense. If we study this flu and prepare now, maybe we can avoid a major outbreak and save lives. That alone is worth the attention an effort.

If we failed to do something and then a major flu hit, people would be looking to chop the heads of those who failed to move. There is no making some people happy.

So in the immortal words of Douglas Addams, "DON'T PANIC". But pay attention, be prepared and hope all the effort was only an exercise in the end.
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bogvaMay. 11, 2009 - 06:04PM JST

So tkoind2 what do you think! Keeping people (students) against their will for 10 days like prisoners justifies what we know about this flu? They could simply put them at home quarantine. Why renting whole hotel?

It's way over reaction here in Japan! Despite the 2 minute talk between friends everyone knows in details everything about the disease.

Just comparing with a friend in Germany who is busy doctor (physiotherapist) and learned from patient there are 6 cases in his country.
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shanabelleMay. 11, 2009 - 09:05PM JST

I think the misnomer of 'swine flu' added to the hysteria...people seemed terrified of a virus that may give them a snout, trotters, and a damn nasty fever for that matter.
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notimpressedMay. 13, 2009 - 03:24PM JST

Big organisations should learn the story of the boy who cried wolf and find a new approach to encouraging vigilence. Perhaps through information rather than media propaganda. It just breeds mistrust and panic.
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Patrick SmashMay. 14, 2009 - 04:34PM JST

It's a huge overreaction. We've all known this for ages. Companies have used this to force people to stay hom from work (unpaid) use paid leave against their wills and generally flaunt the law.

Instead of panicking now, the flu should have been mentioned and work started on a vaccine in case a new and more virulent strain hits us in the Autumn. That's being done too I know, but the accompanying fear-mongering has caused a lot of people a lot of unnecessary trouble. Typical media, always trying to exaggerate news for their own purposes. Crying wolf can be dangerous and the media needs to be more responsible.