NPR: How is this not bigger news??

mags2041

So, I mentioned that when I was visiting my brother last weekend, a woman in his ICU unit had died and it turns out she had the H1N1 flu.  This was in El Paso, TX, a largely hispanic city on the Mexican border in West Texas.  Not only did she die of it, but also another person at a different hospital. They weren't diagnosed initially because their nasal swabs came up negative for the flu - the flu was only confirmed by blood test.  Makes me wonder if they had been properly treated for the flu if they'd still be here.

I am shocked that this has not made national news.  Seems like every diagnosis in NYC or other big city is reported and every death is big news.  Makes me think that the media is ignoring the deaths of these minority victims of the flu.

https://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_12483013?source=most_viewed

MrsSledge

I was thinking the same thing when you initially posted.  I would think a pregnant woman would be bigger news than a principal (asst principal?) in NY.

EXL311

I actually read something about it on MSN or yahoo that said now Texas has more swine flu deaths than any other state and talked about the 24 year old woman that died who you told us about and I think another person who died in El Paso. 

DevonPow

I don't know - they have shut down at least 5 or more schools here in Boston due to the swine flu in the past week which is a big deal here, but it isn't being reported anywhere else. I think a few people here have died, as well...I just think the alarmism about Swine Flu is gone. It is sad, but the regular flu kills thousands each year and is rarely reported.  

Temp159135562506975

we have a few confirmed cases in local schools here in NJ that are not on the news... thank God - quite honestly- i'm sick of it (and apparently so is even the media).  The swine flu has killed SO FEW people compared to the regular flu - there is no reason for mass hysteria that they created when it first started. 

People die every day in the US from many things... there's a lot more stuff out there more dangerous to you than the swine flu- yet it's not on the news all day long -- b/c it's just life.... it happens.

They did their job alerting people to wash hands, be sanitary, etc --- that's about all you can do. You have to go on with your life and just hope you dont' get killed by anything- flu, a bus, ecoli, etc.... everything is out to get you