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From XKCD.

We’ve been seeing and hearing an awful lot in the news about the H1N1 virus (also known as Swine Flu). We’ve also been talking about it plenty, too.  Just a few days after the outbreak, a full 2% of all comments posted on Twitter referenced the Swine Flu. We’re even talking about the virus more than people talked about our favorite frumpy songstress Susan Boyle.

The Center for Disease Control has even created a Twitter site to get out information in real-time about the virus.

As of last night, the total cases of Swine Flu in the US is at 226 with  just 1 laboratory-confirmed case in Minnesota. Experts are also saying that this is a relatively weak strain of the flu.

So, it’s all over the TV, Radio, and Internet, but it’s also dominating what we’re talking about. A person can’t even sneeze without being accused of having the swine flu. Schools are shutting down due to suspisions. Just today, Osseo has closed its doors.

Now, there’s a problem. As the virus spreads, it’s becoming harder and harder to get new, accurate information out in a way that is clear and avoids causing a widespread panic.

So, basically, is the spread of information proper or unnecessarily panic-inducing? The CDC says Twitter chatter is helpful. However, the attention seems to say that we’re in the middle of an all-out crisis, and is that really the case? Also, misinformation is running rampant on Twitter.

What kind of information should be released? When the media is everywhere, how much should we talk about it?

Is the Swine Flu showing a flaw in new media and online journalism or showcasing how powerful the Internet can be?

What are your thoughts on coverage of events like this in the future?

What questions do you have about what’s going on and what thoughts do you have on the affect of an overabundance of information on the country?

This entry was posted on Monday, May 4th, 2009 at 6:35 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.