Daniel Henninger of the Wall Street Journal argues that the World Health Organization s phase six pandemic label, applied this morning to the H1N1 virus, is a loaded word that will instill a sense of panic that may impede the ability of public officials to assemble a rational response plan for this virus. While ACSH staffers agree the WHO s overwrought and highly public deliberation on this matter has been needlessly melodramatic, the terminology is not to blame.
Calling this a pandemic is not irresponsible behavior, explains Dr. Whelan. That s merely the system in place. All it says is that swine flu is in a predetermined number of countries. So either modify the criterion or use it as it is intended.
Stier agrees: It s not even a decision, just an application of the standard, and it should have been applied a while ago to prevent all of this fuss. ACSH staffers agree with the WHO director, who has said that modifying the terminology to reflect the virulence of the epidemic in addition to the geographical spread would benefit efforts to educate the public and calm needless fears.