I read all this news about Swine Flu and a part of me is scared because the news makes it sound worse than it is. According to the World Health Organization, as of today: The United States Government has reported 40 laboratory confirmed human cases of swine influenza A(H1N1), with no deaths. Mexico has reported 26 confirmed human cases of infection with the same virus, including seven deaths. Canada has reported six cases, with no deaths, while Spain has reported one case, with no deaths.

Breaking it down:

US: 40 confirmed cases, 0 deaths
Mexico: 26 confirmed cases, 7 deaths
Canada: 6 reported cases, 0 deaths
Spain: 1 reported case, 0 deaths

Note the difference between “confirmed” and “reported” cases. Remember, this is today’s update.

However, also today, CNN writes:

The number of cases confirmed by health officials worldwide totaled 82, most of them in the United States and Mexico, according to the WHO. But hundreds more cases are under examination, and Mexico has said 149 deaths may have resulted.

“82 confirmed cases” does not quite match the update given by the WHO. I counted, it’s more like 66 confirmed and 7 reported. Furthermore, the WHO reports 7 total deaths worldwide…not the 149 stated by CNN. Granted, they carefully use the word “may”. I’m not saying CNN is lying about the 149 deaths, but it’s obvious someone is wrong.

On April 24th, when news broke, the WHO reported 9 suspect cases of Influenza-Like Illnesses (ILI) in the United States. At the time, Mexico was reporting on 3 different cases of ILI: More than 854 cases of pneumonia with 59 deaths. In San Luis Potosi, 24 cases of ILI and 3 deaths and in Mexicali, 4 reported cases and no deaths. ILI does not necessarily mean Swine Flu.

Confusing, right? Totaling numbers together from April 24th, we have 62 deaths in Mexico. That’s kind of a big difference from the numbers they posted today. So what gives? I can’t seem to figure it out. If I go with the numbers posted today, it doesn’t quite sound like the global, end of the world, fire in the sky, dogs and cats living together, Armageddon that the media is shoveling.

Why the big difference in body counts? Digging a little deeper, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) also reports 40 confirmed cases in the United States, but I can’t seem to find worldwide statistics. So does this mean CNN is wrong? I think it does. Or at least, CNN is making a bigger deal out of this than it is. And it’s not just CNN. It’s every news outlet everywhere. And I like CNN. They’re my go-to news source when something big goes down…but they’re not always right and sometimes even the adorable Anderson Cooper is guilty of sensationalism.

Think about this, The United States is home to an estimated 303,824,640 people. If only 40 cases have been confirmed, I’d hardly call that an epidemic, let alone a pandemic. Also note that this is the 3rd time we’ve seen Swine Flu in our history. The first in 1918 (AKA The Spanish Flu) killed 20 to 100 million people worldwide. In 1976, Swine Flu was back, but this time it only actually killed 1 person. Oddly enough, 25 people died as a result of the vaccine. Don’t forget, in 1918, we didn’t have the medical technology and information we have now, nor any of the government health agencies we currently have in place. Furthermore, personal hygiene and food preserving methods weren’t as efficient as they are now. In 1976, one person died, yet people panicked anyway.

When I start looking at the facts, my cavewoman-like fears give way to logic and rationale. My big question is this: Why the hell do the news agencies of the world continue to scare the shit out of us? It’s just plain cruel, if you ask me. Sadly, most people don’t have the gumption to do all the research I’ve done. They listen intently to the news they trust and immediately start buying surgical masks, washing their hands 50 times a day, stay indoors, line up for Tami-Flu, and stock up for the end of the world. Hey, it even crossed my mind. I thought, what if this thing really hits big? What if people really start dropping like flies? Do I have an emergency kit? How about a food stock pile?

Truth is, people all over the world get the flu all the time. So why isn’t the common flu called a pandemic? Or is it? People still die from pneumonia all the time too. In fact, you’re more likely to die in a car crash than come down with Swine Flu. This is all just silly. Come to think of it, I’m a little embarrassed that I was scared to begin with. I’ll continue to watch and research, but as it stands…if the WHO and CDC are right…I don’t think we should call this a pandemic. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Relax. For now.

In the end, this is yet another super scary “run for your life” disease blown out of proportion by the media. Here we go again. I suppose, this just means we can only count on the media to a certain extent. But you already knew that.