In defence of panicking: swine flu and the media

It’s like Dad’s Army in MediaLand at the moment: The Germans (Mexican Viruses) Are Coming! Don’t Panic! The news is full of Swine Flu while the analysis columns, blogs and Twitter are full of clever commentators saying how there’s no real risk and that far more people die of malaria in Africa every day. Meanwhile, my beloved son is upstairs in bed with a terrible cold/sore throat which appears to conform to all the symptoms that are killing Mexicans. Don’t tell me not to panic.