The biotech industry has a vested interest in the ongoing viability of industrial-scale meat production, and thus a vested interest in blaming the swine flu pandemic on a small family farm in La Gloria, Mexico, says Tom Philpott.
Swine flu
Crikey Says: How the media works, chapter 48, in an occasional series of 12: Swine Flu.
How much coverage swine flu got when there were no cases in Australia, compared with a week in which it was slowly spreading through our schools and cruise ships. Weird.
Take a deep breath, Swine Flu’s not that bad
Swine flu is not hyper-virulent. While it spreads relatively easily it does not appear to be any more virulent that the strains we have circulating every year around the world, writes microbiologist Peter Collignon.
Tracking swine flu with social media
Dr Craig Dalton explains how he’s using the Internet and social media to track the spread of indfluenze across Australia.
Swine flu points out flaws in pandemic policy
I spent the last two weeks in Washington DC, watching with great interest how the US is dealing with the current outbreak of Swine Flu, writes Dr Lesley Russell.
Lessons in History: Lessons in History: what we can learn from… the Spanish flu
Monkey blood and projectile vomiting — yes, the Spanish flu makes Swine Flu sound like a delightful picnic. But there are many scary similarities between the virii. A lesson in history from Mike Stuchbery.
Political snippets: Budget? What Budget? What Australians actually read
Labor’s third party endorsement hypocrisy, Budget passes Australians by and remembering other temporary federal government decisions.
Are Mexican football clubs being treated like swine?
After the swine flu outbreak tore through Mexico, South American nations wanted nothing to do with Mexico, its teams, its players and even its officials.
Responsible reporting of swine flu: a guide
A handy tipsheet for responsible reporting on the swine flu. The only one likely to raise eyebrows is a suggestion to avoid terms like “epidemic”.
Tips and rumours: David Jones understocked?
Crikey tipsters share: are David Jones feeling the GFC crunch? And the case of the dead ATMs.
Soccer player gets red card for swine flu joke
Mexican soccer player Hector Reynoso has been banned from international competition after spit and sneezed on opposing players and then told them he had swine flu.
The real effects of swine flu
Why the swine flu scare is preventing the production of US commercials; and just how much of a boon is it for pharmacies?
Bolt’s Swine Flu aporkolypse
Andrew Bolt was quick to imagine the worst about swine flu.
Tips and rumours: Sydney private school on swine flu sniffles alert
One Sydney private school is sending teachers and students with colds home — just in case it’s the dreaded swine flu; Priceline get a $5m logo makeover; and could Jim Waley be headed to Sky?
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Crikey readers keep the jokes keep rolling at Swine Flu’s expense…
Crikey readers ham it up.
Mexicans travellers face discrimination
Mexicans abroad are being quarantined and denied entry to countries, despite showing no signs of swine flu.
The truth about swine flu and air travel
Neither Qantas nor V Australia are carrying swine flu information for travellers on the primary or booking pages of their web sites.
Expat dilemma: to stay in Mexico or go
Expats in San Miguel (not swine flu affected) for the first time felt vulnerable to the Mexico that dominates most American imaginations — the one of poverty, filth, disease, and despair, writes Laura Fraser.
A visual guide to flu pandemics
A visual guide to flu pandemicsA world map showing how swine flu stacks up against other great flu pandemics.
If we stop kissing then swine flu wins
As always, use your best judgment, but if you’re going to stop dating, relating and mating because of this scare, then swine flu has already won.
Swine flu provides a masterclass in marketing
It’s neither sexy nor flashy, but the swine flu communication coming from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is highly effective — and critically timely. Marketers, listen up.
Bob Dylan caused the Aporkolypse
According to Wonkette, every disaster that has befallen America of late was preceded by a Bob Dylan album with suspicious lyrics… grassy knoll anyone?
Political snippets: Find the correct unemployment number
Richard Farmer un-fudges the unemployment figures and welcomes the return of Jeff Kennett to Page One, where his hair belongs.
