Dr Olarn's Blog

Swine ‘flu again, another letter to the Bangkok Post July 17, 2009

I was disappointed to see that in your editiorial column today (17th July), you have chosen sensationalism over sensibility. While the 2009 flu does seem to spread rapidly, it is clear from data from around the world that it is no more serious than the usual seasonal flu of which there are outbreaks every year. The number of deaths from 2009 flu is proportionally no greater than seasonal flu, indeed many have reported that cases of 2009 flu are often milder than seasonal flu. To say that in Thailand the 2009 flu is the greatest health threat in history, to describe it as deadly, is just scaremongering on your part. Either your editor is sadly misinformed or you are deliberately adding fuel to the fire of public anxiety. Yes some people have died, but the fact remains that 2009 is far from being the leading cause of preventable death at this time. HIV-AIDS remains a far more serious disease than flu of any type, and if you want deadly, tuberculosis causes far more death and suffering in this country than flu. As for the government not telling the truth, if you had taken the trouble to look at the facts, the government simply does not have reliable data that can be presented to the public. Cases of 2009 flu are beyond identifying and counting at this time, and not just in this country. Any data generated from sampling a small select population can only further mislead the public. Other countries have already shifted the emphasis from counting to treating cases of flu. My belief that the Bangkok Post is above using irresponsible sensational tactics to boost circulation seems to have been misplaced. I hope you will prove me wrong in the future.