A time for caution, calm

A time for caution, calm

Philadelphia Inquirer: The death of a 23-month-old Mexican boy in Texas was the first confirmed fatality from swine flu in the United States, further raising concern about the rapid spread of the disease.

Indeed, the threat of swine flu is real and serious. The number of confirmed swine-flu cases is approaching 100 nationally.

About 150 people have died from the disease in Mexico — the epicenter of the outbreak. An additional 2,000 there are believed to be infected with swine flu.

The stock market, travel industry and other businesses have been impacted.

However, the growing global alarm needs to be tempered to avoid panic, while also increasing public awareness, safety measures, and swift responses.

Using common sense

Getting a simple message out can be good medicine. If serious flu symptoms hit, it’s important to seek medical attention sooner. President Obama urged schools with confirmed or suspected cases to close temporarily.

Health officials in several states with depleted budgets were scrambling to handle increased testing and treatment of infected residents, while mounting public education campaigns.

Obama wants Congress to appropriate $1.5 billion in emergency funds for medicine and equipment.

Senate confirmation Tuesday of Kathleen Sebelius as Health and Human Services chief removed a distraction for the administration on health matters.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is running under a capable acting director, but also needs stable leadership.

What lies ahead now is a months-long process — or longer — that Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano likened to “a marathon, not a sprint.” That’s why it’s all the more important to avoid health responses that rely on bad science or mask agendas.

Importation bans on pork products are steps the World Health Organization says are not needed because the virus can’t be transmitted by eating pork. Another unnecessary step would be to close borders or clamp down on travel.