Anyone sick from Swine Flu yet? Not H1N1 itself, but the hysteria and hype associated with the illness. Twenty–four hour news shows, networks run by advertising departments, and our increasing need to let TV tell us how to live have all combined to make H1N1 the equivalent of the Black Plague.

A hospital in Memphis set up a tent outside to handle triage for the overflowing crowds recently. The story made the TV news, as does anything that has to do with Swine Flu. Out of over a thousand people who dropped by the hospital, barely a hundred were actually treated for an illness. Most had a case of the sniffles.

People who, under normal conditions, would just take an Advil Cold and Sinus pill (after registering with Homeland Security to buy it) are now calling an ambulance to take them to the hospital.

Television isn’t helping. Any story involving the words swine or flu is the daily lead, no matter what is being said. The health industry is also getting into the act. Worried Obama’s Socialist agenda will cut into future profits, most hospitals, pharmacies, and doctors’ offices are hyping flu shots, sanitary masks, and disinfectant.

Since no one left in America has any common sense, washing your hands regularly and coughing into your elbow are the most quoted expert advice. Coughing into your elbow has become the equivalent of penicillin. It’s a miracle cure for anything. I’ve started storing my lottery tickets in the crook of my elbow. Hey, if there is magic there, I want to take full advantage.

I realize there is an actual illness called H1N1 and people are dying, but this pandemic has all the makings of hysterical TV hype designed to improve ratings.

2001 is still known as the Summer of the Shark even though numbers don’t support either the fear or the media feeding frenzy from that year. Statistically it was an ordinary year by any measurement.

The big difference was the compelling story of a young man whose uncle fought off and killed the shark that attacked his nephew. The hysteria was on and people today still think 2001 was a deadly year.

Swine Flu has a funny name but isn’t more prolific or dangerous than past strains of flu. It is new enough that a lot of people under 50 might be more susceptible to it and television stations all over the country are ready and willing to scare us silly so we will watch their broadcast and save our lives.

In 1918, 500 million were infected and more than ten percent died. That was an epidemic. Today we understand cause and effect better and can treat such things effectively. Health officials study the possibilities and give worst case scenarios. News organizations eat that up.

With the emphasis on numbers of viewers and getting the story first rather than correct, chances are we will see a lot more overstated stories about H1N1. Any organization that can make stars out of the Kardashians and Jon and Kate can certainly make this into a catastrophe.