Shameless Exploitation of Public Health Emergency by Hate Group Circuit
April 28th, 2009

Americans are right to be concerned about reports of swine flu outbreaks in Mexico, California, New York, and Texas, and the administration's declaration of a public health emergency this weekend was a prudent, routine step.  Public health experts are unanimous about the key measures required in potential emergencies like this:

• Timely and accurate surveillance of the spread of the disease, so that reasonable measures such as closing schools where outbreaks already have occurred can take place, so that individuals who may be considering travel to these areas can take precautions, and so that the government can deploy vaccines, antiviral drugs, and other medications efficiently.
  
  
• Widespread dissemination of information about steps people can take to minimize transmission, such as frequent hand-washing, staying home if one feels ill, and seeking timely treatment if flu-like symptoms develop.

It's unfortunate, then, that certain individuals with an obvious axe to grind are shamelessly exploiting a public health emergency for their own purposes.  It's not surprising that some are implying that all immigrants are a threat to our health-that's standard fare on the hate group circuit.

Ironically, the very act of attempting to demonize and stigmatize entire groups, and even entire countries, is likely to impede these and other critical steps that the authorities are taking to protect all Americans from the spread of the flu, for example:

• If affected individuals are driven underground and deterred from seeking treatment or reporting their illness, it will hamper the authorities' ability to accurately track the disease's progress, or to develop the most effective vaccines.
  
  
• Once an outbreak is identified, its containment is dependent to a great extent on having as many people as possible adhere to protections the government might authorize, such as reductions in public events or closures of public facilities. Open, inclusive communication through the media and community organizations is essential to the success of such strategies, which may be undermined if some population groups are excluded.

Emergencies tend to bring out the best in most Americans, who recognize that the words, "We're all in this together," are never more true than when we face the potential for an infectious disease which does not recognize borders, race, class, or social standing.  It's a sad commentary when some are so blinded by their anti-immigration zealotry that they cannot understand this simple, basic truth.


Paranoia pandemic: Conservative media baselessly blame swine flu outbreak on immigrants
Full text here: http://mediamatters.org/items/200904270037?f=h_latest

Savage declares Mexicans the "perfect mules for bringing this virus into America"
Link to clip: http://mediamatters.org/countyfair/200904270027?show=1