|
After all the previous dire warnings that swine flu was out to kill us all - and nothing could stop it - it seems as if the Daily Mail are not quite finishing messing with the heads of its poor readers. From today's print edition the good health section actually puts forward the argument that catching swine flu could actually be good for you. The logic is that this swine flu doesn't actually seem to be all that serious, so you might as well catch this one and get over it with a natural resistance to future, deadlier strains of swine flu. The writer argues that such illnesses come in waves, the first one not being too serious, but the second mutated strain being very serious. Thus it is wise to catch the first one and be immune to the second one.
The writer even suggests that: People may be tempted to hold swine flu parties, a little like the ones that mothers used to have in order for their children to catch rubella or chicken pox. The article does warn readers that trying to catch this 'mild' form of swine flu will actually put their lives at risk. So the clear message is: 'you are likely to die if you do not catch this mild form of swine flu. But on the other hand, if you do try and catch this mild form of swine flu you are at risk of dying. Either way, we do expect you to die at some stage, be it from the current outbreak of swine flu or the infinitely more deadly mutated pandemic we expect to see in 3-12 months'.  On the bright side, foreign correspondents are at a higher risk of catching the disease, and face masks are thought to offer no protection. Furthermore, those disappointed that the whole swine flu panic seems to be abating can rest assured that the Daily Mail is not prepared to let the panic calm yet:
British scientists work on swine flu vaccine as experts warn of a larger wave of infections
Now nursery closes due to swine flu: Just how many more schools will have to follow?
Health chiefs hold back from issuing full pandemic alert for swine flu outbreak
Airports around the globe roll out scanners in bid to detect swine flu cases
Cruise companies start screening passengers over swine flu fears
As a muffled Richard Littlejohn no doubt said recently: 'Keep calm and carry on'. |
