| Protecting ourselves key in any situation |
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| Local Content - Editorial |
| Written by production |
| Thursday, 29 October 2009 15:36 |
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There has been much talk around the province, and indeed throughout Canada, about the H1N1 scare. Now, news outlets, from newspapers, magazines and television stations, have changed their approach to the pandemic angle. Some have openly questioned whether or not this pandemic has been manufactured by the media, or at least helped along a little bit by the multitude of news coverage it has received. Many are bringing into question the need for the extensive pandemic plans many towns, school divisions and other municipalities have drafted. Others raise the point H1N1 is simply the flu, and the seasonal flu strikes many Albertans each and every year, and is responsible for thousands of deaths across the country annually. Perhaps it was the name given to the H1N1 virus initially — swine flu, that helped create a greater panic than usual, and the fact the virus spread through North America and other parts of the globe so swiftly. But the fact of the matter is, from talking to many different medical professionals, H1N1 is different. It can become more severe, particularly among the younger generations. Seasonal flu seems to be more serious for the elderly while now, the situation is in reverse. Certainly, there are cases where swine flu has led to hospitalization. Alberta Health Services, careful not to give away too much specific information, did say that as of last Friday, 180 H1N1 cases have led to hospitalization in Alberta. Southern Alberta was responsible for 19 cases among those. So it seems people should err on the side of caution, and take steps to prevent the spread of H1N1. Many public areas already have more hand sanitizers than you can shake a stick at, and publicity campaigns are in full swing to promote other ways of lessening the opportunity for the flu to spread. In the end, whether H1N1 is all that it has been cracked up to be, this episode should prove a reminder to everyone that limiting the spread of any disease or virus falls upon the general population. Certainly, there are lessons to be learned, lessons that could one day prove very valuable. |
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