Then, just when it seemed like all of that hand sanitizer was a waste of hand washing, today the World Health Organization (remember them? so last month’s news) declared that H1N1 is, in fact, a pandemic and that countries where it appears to have peaked should be preparing for a second round. According to this report from MSNBC, it is the southern hemisphere that we should watch as they enter into their flu season. In the meantime, a billion dollars has been allocated in the US for the development of a vaccine and the World Health Organization is discussing what they call the most difficult question – who will get the vaccine. 

Who will get the vaccine?  The question stopped me as I read this article, which later reported that some folks in Argentina stoned a bus coming from Chile because they thought someone carrying the virus was on the bus. 

What are we to make of all of this. When news reports conger images of apocalypse  movies? Where is the reasonable center between panic and ambivalence? Who do we trust to provide us with facts that we can use to make rational decisions rather than respond with emotions like fear or cynicism?  Who do you trust?