H1N1 - Really?

I am 100% supportive of precautionary measures to protect oneself from becoming ill. What I don't support is the hysteria that the media is creating. Each media outlet directs people to the CDC website for infromation on swine flu, and information on how to protect yourself. Only after reading what the CDC posted do I feel at-ease. I will not argue that it is regrettable that people have died from the swine flu, and people continue to fall ill. What I find unneccessary are the constant warnings we see every moment of the day. Do not fly, do not use public transportation. Granted our world is much more global now, then it was for the 1968 flu pandemic, and could increase the possibility of spreading infection faster. But being global also helps us get the news out faster, so that people can protect themselves. I had a brief conversation with a coworker who was contemplating a trip to Key West before the outbreak. Now she doubts that she will go. I asked her not to make up her mind until she visited the CDC website so she can see the information I saw. To be fair, she has a 4 year old son, who's immune system isn't the strongest. I could see the fear in her eyes. The fear that her world could be rocked by an illness that has been around for a while.
Again, I don't mean to belittle what is going on. In Mexico, this is a very serious illnees. Not only do citizens have to be nervous they will catch the deadly virus, but they also have to deal with a host of side-effects. For example, restaurants have closed down, and grocery store shelves have been emptied. Schools are closed and parents have to find child care. These are realities the people in Mexico must deal with. But as a Connecticut resident, I'm not sure that this pertains to me. I worked in the restaurant industry for years. I know how important proper hygene is. If you had an itch on your nose, forget it. You could wiggle it all you want, but you could NOT sratch it. I washed my hands so many times that normal people would think us waitresses were OCD. The only thing I think this media hype might be good for is sending the message to wash your hands. It's that simple, wash your hands. And people should do it ALL the time, not just when there is mass messages of the risk of pandemic. Catching some sort of virus is always a risk. And the risk to spread any virus is always real.