An Editorial published Online First by The Lancet Infectious Diseases says that the existing flu crisis could can be seen as a timely exercise in preparing health authorities for a far more devastating pandemic.
The Editorial also praises the overall coverage by the media, saying: "Our impression is that mass media coverage of the H1N1 outbreak has—barring some chequebook journalism and a few unnecessary superlatives—been balanced and rational. Perhaps the media could be criticised for failing to put the outbreak into context, in that the morbidity and mortality associated with H1N1 has, until now, been inconsequential compared with the thousands of lives taken every day by—for example—AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, pneumonia, sepsis, and even seasonal influenza. The general public seems to have passed its own judgement on the dangers of H1N1 in that there have been no signs of panic on the streets, and the story has already started to slip down the news agenda."
The Editorial also discusses the confusion surrounding school closures in different countries, and concludes: "We have been fortunate in that the virus that has brought the world closest to an influenza pandemic for more than 40 years seems to cause little serious illness. This episode can be seen as a timely exercise in preparing health authorities for a far more devastating pandemic. By and large...national and international health authorities have responded to H1N1 in a measured fashion."
Lancet Infectious Diseases Press Office T) +44 (0) 20 7424 4949 E) pressoffice@lancet.com
For Editorial please see: http://press.thelancet.com/tlidh1n1.pdf
Journal
The Lancet Infectious Diseases