We’ve had fully one confirmed death from the H1N1 virus since the media blitz over a week ago. For the record, that is the same death as was reported at crest of this exaggerated wave of caution and fear mongering. Meanwhile, the standard influenza virus continues to relentlessly claim about 200 people per week. And when I say claim, I mean kill. Why haven’t we heard about that?

The the media won’t seek forgiveness. No, instead the experts now drone on about the concern is displaced until this fall, that’s when the virus will really strike and strike hard. Once more, the media, regardless of its polictical affiliation, whether it be conservative or liberal, uses the same engine to grab viewers and preach a little fear. “Researchers find something in your fridge that will kill you in a week. Report at 11!” Come 11pm, you dutifully plug in and watch. At each commercial break the tease continues and finally, at 11:26pm, the story breaks that if you have a leak in your freon refridgerant line and you breath that in, it will eventually kill you.

But since I’ve been languishing in my studies, much has happened. I won’t bore you with the commentary of this or that but I just have to weigh in on this swine flu bit. Every where I turn, every channel I see, some pundit is commenting on just how bad the flu will be. I don’t think so.

In the U.S. alone, better than 36 thousand people die of influenza each year. That is in a 365 day period, right here in the grand ol’ U.S.A. where healthcare is pretty good and the average life expectancy averages around 77 years old (between men and women). That isn’t bad and certainly ranks inside the top-10 countries in the world. But, sure enough, influenza is a real issue for the elderly, young and infirm.

The Swine Flu-palooza is getting hyped to madness. With currently single digit U.S. deaths from this particular strain of influenza, we’re doing okay. Don’t get me wrong, for those families who have lost loved ones due to this virus, life isn’t rosey; my heart goes out to them but a swine flu pandemic? Not sure that is warranted.

And let’s remember, the news is all about sensationalizing real life. Misery, havoc and suffering sell. News is about getting people to watch. Just like the daily news paper, suffering sells. As I’ve surfed through the channels, you hear “epidemic,” “fatal disease,” and “impending doom” but I’m not so sure. Perhaps it will shed light on the thousands of people who actually die of the flu each year and improve research toward finding better way to manage the annual war but are we heading for Will Smith in I Am Legend? I think not.