Putting Swine Flu Into Perspective

Folks, I just want you to take a look at this graphic that puts swine flu into perspective. Go take a look at the large version where you can see all the numbers. For the sake of argument, I'm going to assume the numbers in this graphic are at least as accurate as anything fed to us by the lame mainstream media we have.

If you do take a look, you'll see how much swine flu lives up to the scaremongering -- which is to say, not much at all. Just taking a few numbers from the graphs, I'd like to point out that in the chart's 300-day period...

• There were 180 times more deaths due to traffic accidents than swine flu. Where are the protests, political measures, and grassroots campaigns for safe driving and improved traffic controls? Where are all the Public Service Announcements™ urging you to brush up at driving school?
• Virtually as many people died from leprosy as died from swine flu. How many people do you know who've died from leprosy lately?
• Over 467 times as many people died from STDs, HIV, or AIDS than died from swine flu. How come there aren't any "national emergencies" declared for AIDS? Why is the CDC spamming the TV and radio airwaves with ads for flu shots, and not condoms?
• Better yet, how come there aren't any national emergencies for cancer (nearly 1100 times as many deaths)?

It's all very fishy, my friends. I don't plan to make use of my $600 swine flu shot anytime soon. Can I get a refund?

Update: Just for the heck of it, compare the above numbers to the CDC's own stats on the seasonal flu:

Every year in the United States, on average:

• 5% to 20% of the population gets the flu;
• more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu-related complications; and
• about 36,000 people die [just in the U.S.] from flu-related causes.

Feel free to draw your own conclusions.