(40-year newspaper veteran Hugh Clark is a fellow Big Island Press Club member, friend and mentor to the Big Island Chronicle editor.)
Izzit just me or have our state leaders nationally and their public health people turned into lemmings?
The so-called swine flu “crisis” has gone beyond acceptable levels of panic over a scare that was not well founded.
Information thus far suggests swine flu is less threatening than the typical flu episodes that occur annually. This is not anything close to Spanish flu of our grandparents that wiped out millions.
My most reliable health source is Dr,. Dean on KPUA radio 1 to 2 p.m., Monday-Friday.
He suggested a much more cautious wait-and-see approach. He said USA is fully unprepared for a health health virus crisis and that only one lab in the country could confirm swine flu. I guess that is why Hawaii sent samples to Atlanta for confirmation. Not exactly a timely process or reassuring to me..
Hawaii once had a reputation for having the best public health system. Is the current mess yet another Lingle legacy?
I submit a single case of tuberculosis infection is far worse than all the confirmed swine flu cases documented thus far in Hawaii. (See Thursday, May 7, 2009 Honolulu Advertiser report here.)
The weekend editions focusing on UH-Manoa dorms where a single case was confirmed was an example of the outrageous over-reaction to what seems to be a passing problem. (See reports here and here.) I find myself more worried by the basic health issues, which get B4 or B5 status in the editions I read.
Izzit just me?
May 11th, 2009 at 3:23 pm
Nope. It,s not just you!!!
Kim
May 11th, 2009 at 10:12 pm
Tami Flu was distributed to every state after 9/11. It was a protection against bio-terrorism. Source of this quote. Former Democratic Governor of of Kansas (who is now our Secretatry of Health.)
May 11th, 2009 at 10:18 pm
Hugh, TB is a much greater threat. Heart Attacks kill almost 1 million a year. Where is the fear? Car accidents kill 50-70 thousand a year minimum. Where is the fear? Domestic Violence in this state is an embarassment to manhood. Where is the action? We waste out time robbing land taxes, going on County Junkets, and buying Expeditions for the Governor. Now we have a GOP State Rep who wants 9/11 Hawaii Islam day. We lack leadership and priorities. We do not lack fools who have been elected.