Opinion

Keep flu in perspective

Posted March 14, 2020 1:00 am

Have we all gone completely crazy over the coronavirus? Canceling meetings in U.S. Restricting travel. Schools closing. People working from home. Whatever.

In the most recent past we have had the Asian flu in 1957 with 1.1 million deaths worldwide; 116,000 in U.S. The Hong Kong Flu in 1968 with 1 million deaths worldwide and 100,000 in U.S. The swine flu in 2009 with 600,000 deaths worldwide and 12,500 in U.S. Then there is the regular plain flu with 30 million cases in U.S. alone in the last year and 18,000 deaths just in U.S. Then there is a matter of degree. The vast majority of cases are mild. The most severe ones are elderly and those with other serious health conditions.

This is not to mean we should ignore the coronavirus, but let's keep some perspective and not over react. Too much media hype and also political involvement. What is a good politician supposed to do? He or she must overreact with all the hype. Sad!

Roland G. Ley

Arlington Heights

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