Swine Flu: Up Up and Away?

As vaccinations become readily available and H1N1 (swine flu) appears less critical to the public eye, is it safe to let our guard down on the disease, or better yet, to completely throw in the face mask?

As the Washington Post announced in this past Saturday’s news report, the amount of deaths among children and teenagers had “leveled off” during the summer months compared to the chaos of March. Unfortunately, this lull in the number of infected cases created a false sense of security. After the initial scare subsided, the “Swine Flu” as it was incorrectly labeled, became more of a jest between friends and colleagues rather than a real issue. (Completely against human nature isn’t it? To completely blow something out of proportion and then in an instance forget about it is practically unheard of… ahem). However, along with these jokes come a lack of care and loads of potential problems.

Large classrooms or lecture halls and common dining areas at schools are prime locations for the spread of H1N1. Unfortunately, the newly installed Purell dispensers in these institutions have been as stagnant as the publicity for the epidemic. Why? Because if mom and dad aren’t worried about the disease, neither are their children.

But there’s a vaccine now. So even if they we’re to be infected; they’d be cured, right?

Not exactly. With many unconcerned attitudes and lackadaisical efforts to remain healthy, it’s no surprise that the number of infected children and teens is “shooting up again” currently. Nineteen children and teenagers have reportedly died from the new H1N1 virus this past week, pushing the total number of deaths among children and teens to seventy-six, which increases the total number of swine flu related deaths to 3,873 Americans.

There is no conclusive evidence to tell us how much further this disease will push before it finally goes away for good. So why risk it? GET YOUR CHILDREN VACCINATED! And make health a priority in your household. The statistics show that it’s no laughing matter.