Swine and sheep

Indiana has had its first case of swine flu confirmed. so, naturally, drastic action is called for. The state has now activated its Emergency Operations Center.

Texas has had the first confirmed swine flu death in this country. It was a Mexican child visiting in this country, true, but we can't be too careful, so let's declare a flu emergency and suspend keep students home and stop competitions by schools.

Dear God, there are already more than 100 cases in about a dozens states! Run for your lives! You, there, cover your mouth when you cough, like the president says, and with your armpit, not your mouth, OK?

Oh, wait. This just in:

Since January, more than 13,000 people have died of complications from seasonal flu, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's weekly report on the causes of death in the nation.

No fewer than 800 flu-related deaths were reported in any week between January 1 and April 18, the most recent week for which figures were available.

The report looks at deaths in the 122 largest cities in the United States.

Worldwide, the annual death toll from the flu is estimated to be between 250,000 and 500,000.

About 9 out of 10 of those deaths are among people older than 65, Currie said. Most times, they already have health problems that the flu makes worse, he said.

Yes, yes, I know. It is human to be frightened of the unknown, and this strain of flu could turn very mean, since there is no vaccine for it, so I might be maki But, good lord, come on. You ever wonder why the media treat us like a herd of sheep? It's because we often act like a herd of sheep.