Teehee, Addy enters with the real news as to why this Swine Flu mess is being made into such a big deal.
As previously mentioned, diseases usually begin in one species, mutate, and move onto another. When this happens with humans, they tend to panic, and often within good rights. Lets look at an example we are all aware of that hit Europe in the 1400s.
This disease really started in fleas, coming from mice and rats, suspected to have come into Europe from Asia through trade ships. (Some other scholars think they came from East Africa!) After mutating, it managed to kill a third of Europe's population and was positively (or should i say negatively?) horrifying. This disease remains an awareness of most humans who've learned of the plague.
Influenza kill every year an estimated 36,000 US citizens. Because of the regular flu causing this many deaths, any variation of the flu becomes a major concern. The flu has been known for starting deadly epidemics:
1732-1733: Russian Flu rushes across Europe
1775-1776: One of the worst flu epidemics (uncharted casualties)
1918-1919: Spanish flu kills between 20 to 40 million people worldwide
1793: Influenza kills 500 people in a period of 4 weeks
1847-1848:Asiatic Flu kills nearly double the amount of people worldwide as the Spanish Flu
1850-1851: Flu races across North America with an 80% death rate
1857-1859: Another flu epidemic considered one of the worst, with uncharted casualties
1873-1875: North America undergoes the depression and the flu rips across the nation causing many deaths
1918: WWI is going on and the hospitals have about 80% of their camps being hospitalized for the Spanish Flu
All these epidemics started with only one death, but became much worse as time progressed. This causes alarm.
The Avian Flu, another flu caused by animals, particular birds, has a 90-100% death rate (in America mind you) and kills a person within the first 48 hours typically. Yes, its deadly and has had several serious outbreaks.
The Swine Flu epidemic, as the name states, affected only swine for a while, but mutated and now affects humans too. We have yet to pinpoint its origins, and yes, lesser nations are suffering greater casualties.... Duh!
So, yes, the media is at fault, but not entirely. Looking at the facts, the fact that the whole nation is well informed is a good thing... We don't need another one of those epidemics, do we?
^^;; if you read that whole thing, you are now informed... It could be the beginning of an epidemic and the fact that we don't really have a cure is a great concern to people. Wheeeeeeeeeeee!
<- me leaving
Oh btw!
Thats... a jigglypuff.....
Compare:
Clefairy-
Jigglypuff-
>> I feel like a loser now... xD