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A Double Referral: CIDRAP & Effect Measure

 

 

# 4162

 

 

While I’ve been wrestling with a cranky Internet connection (the new modem appears to be working . . . ), and the medical issues surrounding my Dad and Sister’s car wreck (both are in rehab, and making improvements), two of the most cogent voices in Flublogia made some important comments this morning.



Specifically,  Michael Osterholm, Director of CIDRAP, released a CIDRAP Business Source column (available by subscription) where he takes on the widespread notions that the pandemic of 2009 has been `mild’, and that it is all but over. 

 

 

Making sense of the H1N1 pandemic: What's going on?

Dec 14, 2009 (CIDRAP Business Source Osterholm Briefing) By Michael T. Osterholm - As much as we'd all like to put behind us the tale of this H1N1 pandemic, I'm afraid it's too soon to make that call. And I've concluded that we need to update how we define pandemic severity, because by certain measures this one is surely not mild.

 

Revere over at Effect Measure expounds on Osterholm’s well thought out ideas in a blog this morning entitled:

 

Mild pandemic? Bite your tongue.

 

Both are highly recommended.

 

There is a lot of nonsense being published on the Internet (and even in main stream media) regarding the H1N1 pandemic.  A creeping tabloidization of the news. The litmus test for what many are publishing appears not to be accuracy or reasonableness, but what will drive the most traffic to a site or will sell papers.

 

There are cynical political and ideological agendas at play, particularly from the conspiracy and anti-vaccine crowds.  And then there are those who are just out to sell something; colloidal silver products, over priced protective equipment, etc.

 

P.T. Barnum would have loved the Internet.

 

There are reasonable, educated, and experienced voices out there, and Revere and Osterholm are two of the best.   Both are real-world epidemiologists, and have worked extensively in the public health arena.  

 

They know of what they speak.

 

You’ll find others in my sidebar.   People who take the subjects of emerging infectious diseases and preparedness, and their job as bloggers, seriously. 

 

A pity that less reasonable voices are often the loudest and more widely heard.

 

 

And while I’m at it, a reminder about the HR Toolkit released (for free) to the business community by CIDRAP, based on the lessons learned from this fall’s H1N1 Business Summit.

 

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