Comments on: Swine Flu and the elitist mask of India

By: Lakshmi Rajan

Lakshmi Rajan — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 08:55:03 +0000

@ Ambi:
lol true … Other day i had gone to a department store , someone sneezed and the everyone’s eye were on him with shades of panic ..

By: Ambi

Ambi — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 05:02:42 +0000

For all the people who are so hyped up with fear of Swine Flu… do you know that around the world, the total fatality rate of this disease is just 0.7%?

Compare this to the 50-90% fatality rate for Ebola virus attacks.

I simply had to sniffle my nose at office and am being asked “hey man, swine flu?”…

*face palm*

By: Johnny

Johnny — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:40:08 +0000

Well, I dont think media is reporting because rich are affected with it. It is mostly because this is a new type of virus and the future is unkown.

Whereas if you see other diseases, they are known and there is nothing(new) to report. Its become a routine. Though I agree the govt needs to take steps to reduce it.

More people die of road accidents than any other disease, does that mean we can blame media that only when plane crashes it is flashed and not when a motorcyclst is killed?

Also its similar in relation to bomb-blasts happening in Assam and in Tamilnadu. If a bomb blasts happen in assam it is not a big deal. Its a routine there. But if a bomb blast happen in Chennai it will be breaking news for servaral days and all updates will be reported on top priority.

But I do agree that instead of flashing it as a dreaded disease, Media should give more importance to reducing fear and panic in public by providing more details. Some have already done it. NDTV was showing the other day comparsion between H1N1 and normal influenza.

By: Ashwin Baindur

Ashwin Baindur — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 20:56:57 +0000

Disproportionate reaction in the epicentre. Schools, malls, theatres closed. Parties, picnics, get-togethers curtailed. Train, plane reservations easy. Masks, masks everywhere. But the empty roads, peace and quiet bring back memories of my childhood’s Pune.

By: Mr.R

Mr.R — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 02:53:08 +0000

@ Lucky:

I agree with you but am not against treatment of Swineflu . Even Tuberclosis is an infectious diseas. 1400 death in average a day in India is no small numbers. unfortunately it is not reported or given hype cos it affects mostly the lower rung of society. My whole point is media is elitist. It gives coverage to news that affect the upper half of the society who helps in their TRP and potential ad market.

@ Vipul

True . Even though am not a big fan of marxist I have to agree to this point on media’s elitism which ignores the bigger pictures conveniently.

By: Vipul Grover

Vipul Grover — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 21:03:07 +0000

Bt thn this is purely Marxist assertion (nd um surprisd Swaminathan Aiyer tuk this stnd)
Anyway, I feel Lucky hs also raisd a valid point.. but both d points hav their own merits nd i’ll prefr 2 tilt a bit 2 marxist one 4 d simple reason tht the topic is relatd 2 Swine Flu nd Media’s elitism. nd v cnt deny tht indian media(or 4 tht matter media in general) is elitist.

By: Vipul Grover

Vipul Grover — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 20:57:06 +0000

Thr was a similar discussion on WE THE PEOPLE (barkha dutt) today..
nd its really thought provoking nd true!

By: Lucky

Lucky — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 17:17:39 +0000

I disagree with this..the diseases like respiratory and infections , diarrhea and tuberculosis cannot be pass to other person by touching the affected person, or being near to him or in crowd whereas swineflu is kinda killer plague,that can bring unprecedented scale of death and the city could lost possibly one third of its population

By: Bharathi

Bharathi — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 13:07:49 +0000

Right questions indeed. I liked it.