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When a perfectly normal event is picked up and released by the media in such an intense manner; when the institutions that should be prepared to face the emergency react in an infantile and alarmist way, thus only provoking unjustified concern, we can no longer seek clarification in the realm of science. We can, however, search for explanations where indirect benefits from the situation can be found.
Therefore, here are a few lines to reassure our readers, some of whom have been uneasy about the barrage of press coverage related to the A flu.
- The H1N1 flu virus is not as dangerous and aggressive as the common flu viruses that we are accustomed to experiencing during our winter seasons.
- The diffusion of cases that is occurring at this time is perfectly normal: the virus is following the natural evolution of any low diffusion viral disease.
- The number of deaths caused by the flu is practically non-existent, much lower than that of a typical European winter flu.
- In an interview published in La Repubblica, even Professor Garattini expressed concern over the unjustified growing alarmism over the flu.
- The media are constantly emphasizing the fact that the vaccine for this virus will be available by autumn, as if it had to fuel the public’s expectations in order to stimulate awareness and perhaps the sale of the vaccine.
- The prevention of this flu will become manageable in the usual way, that is, by way of the natural line of defense that Eurosalus has been proposing for years: effective and safe.
When fear of the unknown is maintained even when the danger is unfounded, the objectives have little to do with protecting public health. The effect on the actions of the industries that produce antiviral medicines (whose use is not scientifically justified) might help us understand the widespread publication of this news.
The only reason for alarm lies in the fact that the vaccines performed years ago against the swine flu of 1977 were among the most disastrous in the history of vaccines. A considerable number of serious events such as the Guillain-Barrè syndrome affected persons who had taken the vaccine, causing numerous deaths that still weigh heavily on the international records of adverse affects due to vaccines (Keenlyside LA et al, Neurology 1980 Sep;30(9):929-33).
Let’s be careful that the swine flu doesn’t follow the same path of the avian, just another “bird brained” flu.
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