On the topic of the H1N1 hysteria over a potential pandemic, all i can think of is the relentless propagation of such by one of this website's very own front page authors.
European criticism of the World Health Organization's handling of the H1N1 pandemic intensified Friday with the release of two reports that accused the agency of exaggerating the threat posed by the virus and failing to disclose possible influence by the pharmaceutical industry on its recommendations for how countries should respond.
The WHO's response caused widespread, unnecessary fear and prompted countries to waste millions of dollars, according to one report. At the same time, the Geneva-based arm of the United Nations relied on advice from experts with ties to drug makers in developing the guidelines it used to encourage countries to stockpile millions of doses of antiviral medication, according to the second report.
While I suspected all along that this kind of special interest-sponsored hysteria does most to line the pockets of pharmaceutical companies looking to make a few bucks, many on this site were doing their own part to convince the masses that we were indeed, finally, on the edge of a pandemic catastrophe. Perhaps now, people will be a bit more skeptical of those that seek to employ the levers of fear to expedite their own ambitions.
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