Aftenposten, in its tireless quest to rid Norway of anything resembling a serious press (and thereby the best reasom for freedom of the press), is asking for more “tips” about the outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in the city of Fredrikstad. Quoting one official who says that situation is “catastrophic,” they also report that deaths may increase. You'd have to read very carefully through the articles to learn that you can't get infected by another person, and that old people or people with an already compromised immune system are most at risk to die.
Readin the Aftenposten headlines, you'd be forgiven for believing that we're dealing with an Ebola epidemic or bubonic plague.
Of course, this is serious stuff. I would expect and hope that public health officials are busy a) finding out the source of the infection, and b) identifying everyone who could have been exposed. But as the incubation period nears its end, and assuming the source has been thoroguhly disinfected, there aren't going to be a lot of new cases.
But that doesn't mean Aftenposten should stop using fear to sell papers. I can only imagine the inquiries docs are getting now - “I drove through Fredrikstad yesterday and feel congested - am I going to die?” Perhaps the press should foot the bill.
Sent wirelessly from my Blackberry.
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