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5/13/09: Swine Flu in the Media and Public Imagination

The H1N1 Influenza Virus. Courtesy of the CDC Influenza Laboratory
The H1N1 Influenza Virus. Courtesy of the CDC Influenza Laboratory

By Doug Fabrizio

Salt Lake City, UT – Fear of the H1N1 virus seems to have subsided - at least for now. The overall message from the CDC seemed to be take it serious, but don't panic. Did we listen? News shows led with terrifying headlines and some talk radio hosts laid the blame at the feet of immigrants. Medical humanities professor Therese Jones isn't surprised by this; she says it's the way people have reacted since the first record of an epidemic. Wednesday, we're talking about swine flu media coverage and our own cultural reaction to disease.

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