Don't Panic! Relax!

So in the news, you've no doubt heard about the swine flu. Yes, here we go again. I'm always amazed that people are shocked when this hits. In fact I'm even MORE amazed that these outbreaks don't hit more often. You see, as a microbiologist, I've been expecting a pandemic for years. This isn't to scare people, but just the knowledge that we're due for something big. It's in the history books, but often overlooked, every 80 years or so the influenza takes a joyride into the general population. Here's an actual graph from a science journal article showing the "blips" when pandemic influenza pops up.

So the fact that we have these types of outbreaks isn't news really, it's been happening all the time. Plus our overpopulated Earth is just primed for something to wipe a good chunk out. Yeah, I'm talking about people here and being utterly morbid about it, but honestly my opinion is like to those who build their house on the San Andreas Fault and OMG! Earthquake! SAVE US!!! I like San Francisco and would enjoy living there. But to be surprised when a major earthquake hits... that's just plain ignorance.

So like the inevitable earthquake due, there's an inevitable pandemic due folks. Don't Panic! Relax! And wash your hands...