Katie Couric's Notebook: Swine Flu

By: Katie Couric
Topics: Katie Couric's Notebook

(AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

It's like a scene from a Michael Crichton novel: medical workers in biohazard suits and people wearing surgical masks in the streets.

These images on television seem to contradict President Obama's message - that swine flu is not a cause for alarm.

We do know the illness is serious. More than 100 people have died from it in Mexico, and there are several dozen cases right here in the United States.

That said, doctors say it responds well to traditional anti-viral medicine like Tami-flu. As of now, everyone in this country who has contracted it has recovered.

Here's an interesting statistic to keep in mind: The CDC reports that 36,000 people die from flu-related illnesses every year.

The flu is always a concern, especially for small children and the elderly.

As this outbreak runs its course, we need to stay informed, but we also need to remain calm.

A sense of perspective is nothing to sneeze at.

That's a page from my notebook.

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by gmferraro April 28, 2009 6:07 PM EDT: Good Day:
Has anyone in the media or security considered the possibility that the swine flu could have come from an alternate source (i.e. man released by our enemy). as an act of terror specifically by the Taliban or Terrorist organization wanting to bring down our middle class? Funny that this happened right as President Obama turned in his report for 100 days in office.

Just asking; Reply to this comment


by petersemkiw April 28, 2009 3:06 PM EDT: Hope they develop a vaccine quickly !; Reply to this comment


by isitreal April 28, 2009 11:39 AM EDT: Yesterday they said that the cases of Swine Flu in New York were from students that went to Cancun for spring break, but there is not a single case of Swine Flu in Cancun, how is that possible? Can it be another type of flu?; Reply to this comment


by jmoss50 April 27, 2009 9:56 PM EDT: Katie, I enjoyed watching you on the Today Show and I have a question. Watching you tonight, well, you look very "Butch". Short hair makes your neck look like a body builder and with the jacket and shirt you have on, quite frankly you look masculine. Is this the look you are going for? Do you feel that you need to "compromise" to be taken seriously by looking like a male? I'm sorry if this is something necessary in this day and age. You are a very nice looking woman, you don't need to look like a man!; Reply to this comment


by fdx22 April 27, 2009 6:27 PM EDT: It is only a matter of time when the next flu virus unleashes a deadly, global epidemic.; Reply to this comment