Swine flu: Not all bad

For all that’s been said against swine flu, the virus has at least one good thing going for it.

It has scared people into washing their hands and covering their mouths when they cough.

This, of course, is sound advice under any circumstances.

But we’ve noticed that people tend toward complacency in hygienic matters of this sort.

And so we credit the torrential publicity spawned by swine flu with prompting people to take precautions which can protect them from this new flu as well as from other, possibly more dangerous, infections.

Precisely how serious is the threat posed by swine flu remains a mystery.

Early signs, however, suggest that the virus might be less dangerous than the “common” strain of the flu.

That, combined with the likelihood that a vaccine will be available, could ease the fear that has swept the nation and world the past two weeks.

But it’s still wise to wash your hands often.