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"Now, put your thinking cap on on this."
Deirdre Imus
Posted: June 24, 2009 02:02 PM
As the hysteria surrounding the swine flu begins to subside, so do the unanswered questions about the origin of the disease. While a 24-hour news cycle incessantly tallies each and every victim, few networks have reported on the possible source of the outbreak.
In a scenario we see all too often whenever new viruses emerge, nearly every aspect of this outbreak is overly sensationalized. The same thing happened when several isolated cases of avian flu, Monkeypox, West Nile and SARS made daily headlines.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not minimizing the loss of life and agree it is important to monitor disease outbreaks regardless of size. But shouldn't these repetitive reports be kept in perspective, particularly in a country where good hygiene and medical care is available?
Ever since the swine flu scare became a "breaking news" story there has been very little coverage on the suspicion that its origin may be the byproduct of unregulated corporate greed, otherwise known as concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs), or factory farms.
For the most part, the mainstream media have been "missing in action" (again) on the swine flu/Smithfield connection. A few networks and newspapers have given the possible connection a brief mention, but for the most part, internet reporters are the ones putting together the pieces.
It was Tom Philpott, food editor for Grist, who first broke the story that the origin of the swine flu outbreak may be connected to a concentrated animal feeding operation owned by a subsidiary of Smithfield Foods.
See full story
Source:Deirdre Imus
Posted: June 24, 2009 02:02 PM
As the hysteria surrounding the swine flu begins to subside, so do the unanswered questions about the origin of the disease. While a 24-hour news cycle incessantly tallies each and every victim, few networks have reported on the possible source of the outbreak.
In a scenario we see all too often whenever new viruses emerge, nearly every aspect of this outbreak is overly sensationalized. The same thing happened when several isolated cases of avian flu, Monkeypox, West Nile and SARS made daily headlines.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not minimizing the loss of life and agree it is important to monitor disease outbreaks regardless of size. But shouldn't these repetitive reports be kept in perspective, particularly in a country where good hygiene and medical care is available?
Ever since the swine flu scare became a "breaking news" story there has been very little coverage on the suspicion that its origin may be the byproduct of unregulated corporate greed, otherwise known as concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs), or factory farms.
For the most part, the mainstream media have been "missing in action" (again) on the swine flu/Smithfield connection. A few networks and newspapers have given the possible connection a brief mention, but for the most part, internet reporters are the ones putting together the pieces.
It was Tom Philpott, food editor for Grist, who first broke the story that the origin of the swine flu outbreak may be connected to a concentrated animal feeding operation owned by a subsidiary of Smithfield Foods.
See full story
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