Maybe it's only been about a week to 10 days. But I'm ready on this day to declare the swine flu panic (don't you love how the name changed when an interest group complained) was a media invention.
I'm not usually a black helicopter kind of person. I like to believe I'm even more informed than the average guy. But this wolfpack journalism where half of newspapers and newscasts were dedicated to a single issue seemed to lead government to come blazing with both barrels which led to the circle being completed with more coverage.
Theories on why: People were tiring of economic news and tuning out. A basic disease is easy for journalists to understand and reflect, certainly simpler than economics or world politics. The flu can be illustrated with cute children having check ups. Politicians can say "we're here for you" in such an issue.
But at the base of how much coverage was needed is simple math. As of this May 3, estimates are there are about 24 million people in Texas. And 43 cases of this flu. If that is the ratio that calls for such major news action, I'd bet on about 100 other diseases that should demand even greater review.
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