Learning from the swine flu hysteria

The swine flu hysteria has made pharmaceutical companies richer, but a millionfold lethal spread was missing.

Swine flu hysteria has made pharmaceutical companies richer at the expense of taxpayers, but a millionfold lethal spread has not materialized. Ontario's former health chief, Richard Schabas, asked in May 2010 the critical question: "What if we declare a pandemic and nobody gets sick?" From today's perspective, one can confidently join this legitimate question. Only a few people still see a serious threat in the swine flu. Meanwhile, leftover vaccine doses are being sold to Pakistan for little money. The willingness to vaccinate within the population has declined rapidly. In Berlin, expired swine flu vaccines are already in the trash.

Richard Schabas points to emerging skepticism among professionals as well, commenting, "Some of us think WHO stands for World Hysteria Organization." At Spiegel Online, Markus Grill explains what we should learn from the swine flu hysteria for the next time. One thing is certain, the media had a large share in many hysterical reflexes, since "extreme positions" can often be sold better. In this context, one could also see the "yellowing yellow" Bildzeitungs headline in October last year: "Swine flu professor fears in Germany 35,000 dead!". (sm, 14.03.2010)

Read on:
Spiegel article: Four lessons from swine flu hysteria
Facts about the swine flu
Swine flu vaccination: First recourse claims?