This swine flu garbage has gone too far.
My alma mater, Wichita State University, has cancelled the traditional handshakes during commencement, which will be taking place May 15 and 16.
Now they will just get their diplomas with no congratulatory handshake.
This is ludicrous.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, there are 642 confirmed cases of the H1N1 influenza virus in 41 states.
As of 11 a.m. Wednesday, Kansas only had two confirmed Kansas, according to the CDC.
Why is our state worried? Why is the “Shocker Nation” becoming full of such panic-stricken pansies?
There have been only two deaths in the United States that have been attributed to the H1N1 virus.
You know how many people die in the United States each year because of the regular flu?
The CDC says 36,000.
So why are we so worried about the virus that we are eliminating a tradition?
I don’t know, but it is ridiculous. There is no reason to be so worried.
Granted, I realize a majority of the concerning isn’t based on how severe the virus is but rather how fast it spreads.
Still, so far only 0.00556 percent of the normal death count has occurred. Why are people panicking?
Sure, there are some concerns about the virus going dormant, mutating and then becoming really serious during the normal flu season, but even if that does occur, do we really need to eliminate human contact now?
Maybe an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, but it is just a handshake.
Have some hand sanitizer available and carry on with normal life. Don’t let the virus win.
I think this whole situation got all the attention it has because it is sweeps week for the television stations.
Writer Andy Borowitz agrees. Read it here.
According to the World Health Organization, there have been less than 30 deaths world-wide, so why else would it get all the attention if not for sweeps week?
Oh, and don’t call the H1N1 virus “swine flu.” That isn’t fair to pig farmers.
“There is no risk of infection from this virus from consumption of well-cooked pork and pork products,” WHO said.
Now if you will excuse me, I am going to visit a pig farm and shake hands with everyone I see.
Perhaps I will even lick my hands between shakes.
I’m not scared of any silly virus.
Shouldn’t canceled have one “l” ? 😉