Seems like every year we get dire warnings about the possibility of a virulent flu outbreak; how it's just around the corner. When it happens we'll know about it. I just don't quite understand why the CDC, for example, issues these alarmist sounding pronouncements and scares people. I'll worry when it starts to happen. At that point, I'd probably put myself under quarantine. I have enough of what I need that I don't need to shop for a long time. I like to stock up before winter sets in because hauling groceries through the snow and slop at 10 degrees is not my idea of fun. I just hope that they have not cried wolf so much that when it happens for real, people blow it off until it's too late.
"I just hope that they have not cried wolf so much that when it happens for real, people blow it off until it's too late."
Yeah, I agree.
One aspect of today's technology is that communication is so fast to spread information that the info about what is happening will spread faster than the virus can spread. People should have more warning and be able to take precautions alot more readily than the people from generations ago.
“Seems like every year we get dire warnings about the possibility of a virulent flu outbreak; how it’s just around the corner. When it happens we’ll know about it. I just don’t quite understand why the CDC, for example, issues these alarmist sounding pronouncements and scares people”
This is the first law of bureaucracy in play: “Don’t screw up” You see this in predictions of all sorts from the government.
Take the weather service - Do you ever wonder why we get predictions of “above average” for Hurricane activity? Well what would happen if they said “below average” and we had average, or above average numbers of hurricanes?
The second law of bureaucracy also applies: “If you know, say so, if you don’t say you do emphatically”
The CDC has no idea how bad the next flu season will be - like the weather service, they can only tell you when the storm is about to hit.