We’ve been hearing so much about “Swine Flu” — is this a medical issue or an emotional one?
Was talking to a doctor friend today who mentioned how much press we’re giving Swine Flu when “regular” influenza is so much more destructive every single year. I was totally surprised, assuming that all this media coverage must signify a serious threat. So I looked that up — turns out that about 200,000 people are hospitalized every year in the US per year for influenza — less than .1% of that number have been diagnosed with Swine Flu in the US (see this story on WebMD: Putting Swine Flu in Perspective).
So what’s the fear? Is it the uncertainty of a new type of influenza? (Apparently there are new influenza strains every year). Is it just media hype? Is it a “lighting rod” of a tangible threat that’s just happening to surface while millions of people are seeing their quality of life eroding in the face of global recession?
Joshua Freedman
Part of the Six Seconds' founding team, Josh is one of the world leading experts on emotions, change, and performance. One of a handful of people with proven experience creating organizational performance through EQ, Freedman leads a world-wide network of EQ change agents. (sd)
Hello Josh,
Thanks for your piece on emotional pandemic. I think the issue borders on fear of the unknown, taking cognizance of historical facts compounded by media hype. The media and the health authorities easily dug into the 1918 Spanish flu and recall the more than 40million deaths that happened then. People have forgotten that the state of health facilities and the capacity to respond to epidemics now is far more advanced that in 1918. The hype is really about the fear of death. As one singer once sang “everyone wants to go to heaven but nobody wants to die”. On a positive note I have been reflecting on how one could utiilize the power of the media in the mould of the emotional pandemic to create a truly unifying and positive emotional contagion for a truly uplifting and satisfying governance and leadership for a better world for all mankind. Could this be realizable in our world in our lifetime?
Maybe I am a bit more cynical, but what got the world out of the 1930′s depression was a war- it generated business and industry. A so called war on swine flu is more likely doing the same, but of course not at the same scale. Note the share prices for some companies, esp those researching vaccinations have increased. Papers are selling, face masks and antiseptic handwashing creams are sold out. I am sure there are other spin off as well. Media love to play on peoples fears, movies do it, books like twilight sell in there millions, the truth is fear sells and that one would argue is good for the economy! As I said I am a bit cynical.
Yes, thanks for this post. I think the media coverage does feel emotional. I also wonder if it is a way for some to express some coded xenophobia. I’ve noticed on twitter that the posts often seem spiraling, trying to besting the last catastrophic report.