Overall, the article has more of an opinionated feel than that of a fact-based one. And while MSNBC is known for being a democratic news station, the opinions battle each other and leave the readers to make up their own mind about the virus and the state of the nation. The statistics mentioned, however, check out: Several articles agree about the number of cases in the United States. While the number ranges from 140-146, the statistic is reasonably on par. (Kannampilly)
The request from the CDC concerning states being able to treat 25% of their population is also valid. (Adcox) Though citizens have mixed feelings about the suspension, many sports activities, particularly in the Huntsville area, are temporarily suspended. This is confirmed by the Birmingham News. An article in the Star Tribune of Minneapolis, MN also quotes the mayor of New York City as having claimed the swine flu to be little more than an “annoyance. ”
Taking these validity checks into consideration, it would seem that the article from MSNBC, despite its democratic alliances, isn’t trying to fool anyone. It offers solid facts, and varying sides of an extremely touchy subject for many Americans. The most current common opinion seems to be that the American people shouldn’t panic. Instead, they should look at what is known currently. Yes, the swine flu is spreading. However, the severity of the illness in the United States is not as serious as some of the cases in Mexico.
Look at this now – The Hiv/Aids Moral Panic
The States have only had one fatality thus far, while the seasonal flu virus claims 36,000 each year. Antiviral medications seem to be working. Precautions are being taken in case the outbreak does prove to be something serious a la the 1918 pandemic which claimed the lives of thousands. The virus should be taken seriously, but not to the extreme. Something as simple as practicing basic hygiene could work wonders.
Works Cited
Adcox, Seanna. “With 13 cases, SC prepares to test for flu itself. ” The Sun News. 1 May 2009. The Sun News. 1 May 2009 Associated Staff, “Swine Flu Fears Ease– for now. ” MSNBC. 1 May 2009. MSNBC. 1 May 2009 Crenshaw, JR. , Solomon. “Community sports programs mixed in reaction to threat. ” Birmingham News. 1 May 2009. Birmingham News. 1 May 2009 Kannampilly, Ammu. “Overraction? Will Swine Flu Become a Run-of-the-Mill Outbreak?. ” ABC News. 1 May 2009. ABC News. 1 May 2009 Morales, Eduardo. “Flu Spreads, but signs of hope emerge.. ” Star Tribune. 1 May 2009. Star Tribune. 1 May 2009