Checking on the Facts: Fake Swine Flu Alert

Here’s just another example of the importance of making sure you have all the facts straight.  As of Monday night, I was hearing rumors about there being swine flu on campus.  I was incredulous at first.  There was no cold, hard fact to base these reports on.  When I got up the next morning, I had a campus-wide e-mail about swine flu care and prevention.  Later on in the day, I saw a channel 4 camera man videotaping on campus.  It seemed like all the evidence was pointing towards a swine flu case.  However, as was reported later, none of this was true.  You can read the WTAE article about the real events here.  However, I think this is just another lesson about the importance of making sure you have the facts straight before you write or assume anything.  Reporters may get interested in some story because of a tip someone might have given them, but just because you got a tip (or events seem to point towards something) does not mean it’s true.  As Dr. Jerz says, “If your mother says she loves you, check it out” and “Verify or duck.”

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