There is so much information and misinformation floating around about pandemic H1N1 swine flu, including some with grains of truth, and others that are simply conspiracy theories with no merit. In response to many of the swine flu facts and fiction shared by site visitors, here are some assessments.
Please note: You can make many of these assessments for yourself each time a new theory is proposed by learning to confirm or debunk health-related theories.
Here are some of the theories that have been offered about the causes of swine flu, and some commentary about them:
• The H1N1 swine flu is not wiping out entire villages in Asia or Africa.
• The swine flu did not come about as human error.
• The swine flu was not created by pharmaceutical companies so they would make billions of dollars. In fact, some of the companies manufacturing the swine flu vaccine have had to do so in place of seasonal flu vaccine, which is partially the reason for the shortages of vaccine reported in Fall 2009. Vaccines are not the big money-makers that other drugs are because they are cheap and easy to produce, then they don't sell for very much. If pharmaceutical companies wanted to make big money, they would never choose a flu virus to be the source.
Here are some bogus facts reported about the flu vaccine:
• The government is trying to "depopulate" the earth. Now think about that for a moment. If you follow the money, then it makes NO sense that the government would want to depopulate the earth. Who would be left? There would be no one to be in charge of. And how would they prevent themselves or their families from being 'depopulated" along with the rest of us?
• Flu vaccines are contaminated -- and the FBI intends to cause mass murder in all countries of the world. Flu vaccines aren't contaminated, although there are some people who have problems with getting them. The FBI has no domain over other countries of the world. It is a federal agency that overseas law enforcement within the United States only.
• The swine flu vaccine contains nano chips to track us. I could find no credible source to either confirm this or debunk this statement. In fact, the only way to disprove this is to follow the money. You have to ask, why would anyone want to track us? In all the ways that matter, that is already happening. Credit is tracked through credit reporting agencies. Finances are tracked through banks and other financial institutions. The food we eat is being tracked by the supermarket through cards we swipe for discounts or checks we write to pay for our groceries. So why would anyone spend the money to 'track' us by including some expensive technological tracker in flu vaccine? And even if they did, how on earth would they know who they are tracking?
These are some general rumors to track, too:
• You can catch the swine flu through fruits and vegetables. This may be true. If someone carrying the flu virus touches anything at all, and you touch it soon after (even within a few hours), then you may pick up the germs. Fruits and vegetables, or cereal boxes or even the grocery carts they go in. Or library books, or that new pair of shoes you have admired at the shoe store, or -- yes -- anything at all. Including another rumor -- yes -- you can even catch swine flu from money. This is why we are told to be careful about hygiene, to keep our hands washed, and not to touch our faces with possibly germy hands. And, of course, be sure to wash all fruits and vegetables before eating them. Good practice regardless of flu bugs.
• Eating eggs causes swine flu. No - eating eggs per se will not cause swine flu. But eggs are used in the vaccine manufacturing process, so if you are allergic to eggs, you should not get the vaccine.
Remember, you can determine for yourself whether statements are true or false, by learning to confirm or debunk health-related statements and theories.
One other way we are being tricked and lied to about pandemic H1N1 swine flu is through snake oil salesmen and those would would take our money by trying to sell us bogus goods and services. Anytime you are tempted to make a purchase to prevent or treat H1N1 swine flu, be sure to learn about which of these swine flu products is bogus.
