Swine Flu (H1N1) Represents One

Swine flu (H1N1) represents one of the most important health issues of our day, yet the subject is often confusing to the general public. While there are several factors that contribute to the confusion, the way the numbers regarding swine flu are presented are part of the problem. According to Best (2004) there are five main types of ways in which numbers are misused to convey ideas -- missing numbers, magical numbers, confusing numbers, authoritative numbers and contentious numbers.

The most vital with respect to swine flu appears to be missing numbers. On one side of the issue are the numbers of patients who contract swine flu but go unreported, either because they do not seek treatment or because they have been misdiagnosed. Data selection varies from jurisdiction as well. For example in Georgia there are certain criteria that need to be met before a patient is tested for H1N1, meaning that some patients may go undiagnosed (Shirek, 2009).

One of the outcomes of this is the disparity some states have wide gaps in the "official" and "unofficial" numbers, either of which could find its way into a news report. Contentious data is another issue. Countries that fear damage to their reputation are suspected over underreporting swine flu cases and deaths. China, for example, reports fewer cases than Hong Kong, despite the massive population difference and the high amount of trade between the two.

Moreover, China reports only one death from swine flu for its nearly 16,000 cases, which would give it a success rate in treatment better than all other countries in the world save for Germany. China's one reported death is equivalent to the number of reported deaths in the Solomon Islands, St. Kitts and the Cook Islands, among other tiny countries with few cases (Flucount.org, 2009).

It is difficult for citizens and authorities to truly understand the nature of the swine flu epidemic, due to the fact that each different jurisdiction reports its own numbers. This leads to different criteria for measuring and.