With all the hubbub about the Swine Flu buzzing around the nation, I figured I’d join in. It’s nuts. The media is perpetuating the chaos of this “epidemic” that’s striking the nation. As a member of the media, I understand why. People are interested. People want to know what’s going on in their world, especially when it deals with death and morbid sensationalism. However… 

Did You Know?

•  According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), during the first six months of 2008, 83 deaths associated with laboratory-confirmed influenza infections occurred among children less than 18-years-old.
•  According to the CDC’s National Vital Statistics Report for 2005, there were 63,001 total deaths reported to the CDC caused by influenza and/or pneumonia in 2005.
•  And 75,119 deaths due to Diabetes.
•  As of the end of 2005, approximately 550,000 deaths among people with AIDS were reported to the CDC.
•  Almost 480,000 U.S. residents are living with HIV infection, of whom about 25 percent are unaware of their infection.
•  According to U.S. Teenage Pregnancy Statistics, 414,580 babies were born to mothers between the ages of 15 and 19.
•  And, 1,211 babies were born in 2007 with their mother’s addiction (alcohol, cocaine, heroin, etc.) as the habit was passed on whilst the baby was still in the womb.

 You get the idea.

 Thus far in 2009, there has been 160 reported deaths in Mexico due to the Swine Flu (A(H1N1)) and one reported death in the United States.

 Despite these numbers, the Swine Flu has become a household name and topic of discussion. Not how to prevent or treat Diabetes. Not AIDS or HIV or how to and why you should get tested. Not teenage pregnancy and talking to your children about safe sex. And definitely not pregnant drug addicts.

 No way. Let’s talk about the Swine Flu.

 I am in no way demeaning the poor child that died in Texas from the flu or the people who have been diagnosed. This is just a plea to wake up and talk about what really should be talked about at the dinner table.