Swine Flu: Watching and Waiting But Not Panicking

Like everyone else, I've been watching the news about swine flu escalate as more countries report cases everyday. And today it escalated even more as the U.S. reported its first death from the swine flu.

I've never been so glad that my husband and I work from home. In the old days, he took a germy, crowded commuter train then transfered to an even more packed subway. The first winter of this commute, he had a record number of illnesses.

But none of us--work-at-home or not--live in a bubble. My school-age kids, of course, are my biggest concern. They are the ones out there making contact with people all day long. And so I'm concerned but not panicked.

Health officials are emphasizing that people should not panic even as words like "pandemic" work their way into the national dialogue.

But should pandemic equal panic? About.com's Guide to Infectious Diseases Ingrid Koo says no in her blog on swine flu:

If the situation turns into a pandemic, should you panic? Absolutely not. If a pandemic should occur, Americans are well educated and well informed enough to know how to handle the situation. We have resources through radio, television, and the internet to keep us updated on symptoms to watch out for and treatment options that are available.

She's the expert. And I'm going with the experts on this because my common sense tells me that panic only exacerbates any volatile situation. But my trust is not blind. I'm keeping a close eye on what school and health officials in my area and nationwide are doing.

More on Swine Flu From About.com Experts:

• About Pediatrics
• About Patient Empowerment
• About Cold & Flu