Should the science ignorant media be banned from reporting on swine flu?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Steve Smith Esq.
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Steve Smith Esq.

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thousands of people die from car crashes, nosocomial infections and smoking with barely a mention in the newspapers.

a few people die from a flu and it's a national panic!

in your opinion, how much of the panic is down to sensationalist media reports and how much is down to the fact that the general public knows sweet FA about science?
buddha: how old are you? are you immunocompromised?
 
I am a well informed person and it is mainly through the media. I am in the high risk group and will be one of the first to get the new vaccine, so I need to know what is happening. I have asked at my doctor's surgery several times what I should do if I develop symptoms and they seem to know fairly little about it. The nurse said 'just ring up', little chance of getting through though, as I know through experience. The Practice Nurse seems to know nothing at all about swine flu. I have not received any advice from anyone, even though I have just had open lung surgery. I am fortunate because I am an able individual but many aren't. I protect myself by staying at home. I go to the supermarket once a week at 8am in the morning and constantly wash and gel my hands when I have finished. There are the minimum amount of people shopping at 8am. I have asked my friends not to visit me until I have had the vaccine. Without the press, I should be at a loss. I am under sixty-five years old, so don't come into the category who have some immunity to it. I have also had breast cancer in each breast and have had lymph nodes removed on each side, thus compromising my immune system.
 
I am worried about swine flu - purely because I've read in several newspapers, on the internet, in leaflets from the NHS etc that it can affect asthma and cause respiratory problems. My 2 sons aged 3 and under both have severe asthma.

The media shouldn't be allowed to hype up things like swine flu - people who have cause to be worried, are worried enough without it being blown out of proportion by the media.
 
I've never been an advocate of press censorship,we are all aware that they tend to over-egg stories but to silence them would be too extreme.
 
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