The swine flu (H1N1) pandemic first caused a panic in March and is once again threatening to become a preoccupation among the American public.
But you'd think we be getting used to this type of scare by now.
The World Health Organization says infectious diseases are spreading faster than ever before, and new diseases are emerging at the historically unprecedented rate of one per year. Epidemics -- in short, when the number of people infected rises to an unexpected level within a country -- have become more common and are spreading with greater ease and speed. More pandemics -- basically an epidemic covering a wider geographic area, often worldwide -- are predicted as the natural extension of this trend.
The swine flu marketing craze
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From an economic standpoint, the impact of this new era could be devastating. Global trade and travel connect the world but, at the same time, facilitate the spread of infectious diseases. The reaction to outbreaks is crucial -- both to contain a disease and its associated costs. With the 2003 outbreak of SARS, for instance, the response had staggering financial implications, totally disproportionate to the number of people infected. From SARS we learned that public perception and media responses to pandemics are nearly as important as the actual disease.
Click on the items below to read about five infectious diseases (some from the past that could still stage a comeback; some current and one future threat) and how they may impact you and the economy.
Oufff! This sounds serious! Swine flu, PANDEMIC! PANIC! Yup, the American 'public ' is definitely 'preoccupied'. But you'd think, we'd be getting used to it by now... but we're not, cause MSN keeps writing such brilliant and in depth articles on the topic.
The WHO says all kinds of amazing things, but WHO is the WHO? Hmmm...
With less than 5000 (?) people ALLEGEDLY having died of the swine flu (out of a world population of roughly 7 billion), pfftt, i don't know, is that an "epidemic"... or a "pandemic". Wow, wonder the markets are about to tank.
But have no fear, cause the next article asks if "the US economy has rebounded". Cause, you know, economies do that, they "rebound"... until they run out of bubbles... or they encounter a mass-induced virus.
I am sick and tired of employers making you come in sick and you in turn infect every person you come into contact with. Half of the reason people get sick is because of some idiot dragging themselves to woork sick as a cog trying to prove something. Stay home idiots.