2009 N1H1 Media Coverage

Drs. Howard Markel and Alexandra Stern were interviewed extensively during the 2009 N1H1 (swine flu) outbreak and also published several editorials. Their comments ranged from historic public health lessons to necessary cooperation to quarantine and scapegoating. Following is a listing of news stories containing their comments.

April 26

“Why is swine flu happening?,” CNN-TV, Howard Markel

April 27

“How to Deal with Swine Flu: Heeding the Mistakes of 1976,” Time.com, Howard Markel

April 28

“Among swine flu’s unknowns: Impact here,” Las Vegas Sun, Howard Markel

"Among the swine flu mysteries: Why only deaths in Mexico?," CNN.com, Howard Markel

“Swine Flu: Better to Over-Prepare than Under-Prepare,” New Republic (op ed) Howard Markel

“Swine Flu Emerges at Worst Possible Time for Global Economy,” Fox Business.com, Howard Markel

“Numbers to fear?,” Fox Business.com, Howard Markel
(approx. 23 minutes into this one-hour program)

“What to do about swine flu?,” GlobalPost, Howard Markel

April 29

“Quarantine and the public good,” Ottawa Citizen (op ed), Alexandra Stern, Howard Markel

“The mother of all flu epidemics,” BBC.com, Howard Markel

“Lessons from past flu outbreaks,” FoxBusiness.com, Howard Markel

“Q&A: How antivirals can save lives,” Time.com, Howard Markel

“Scientists dig for lessons from past pandemics,” CNN.com, Howard Markel

“Blaming the Flu on Mexicans Is Immoral. And Foolish,” New Republic (op ed), Howard Markel, Alexandra Stern

“Swine Flu Epidemic: Fact or Fiction for North America?,” Digital Journal, Howard Markel

April 30

Drs. Markel and Stern’s 2007 JAMA study on 1918 non-pharmaceutical interventions was discussed extensively in: “Containing flu is not feasible, specialists say,” New York Times, April 30, 2009, 1, 14

“Swine flu traits puzzle investigators,” UPI, Howard Markel

“Aumentan enfermos y muertes por gripe porcina,” ElDiaNews.com, Alexandra Stern

May 1

"Teetering On The Edge Of A Flu Pandemic?," National Public Radio's Science Friday, May 1, 2009, Howard Markel

“Amid swine flu outbreak, racism goes viral,” MSNBC.com, Howard Markel

“Lessons from a pandemic past,” BurrillReport(podcast), Alexandra Stern

“History lessons for swine flu response,” How stuff works.com, Howard Markel

May 2

“American Epidemics, a Brief History,” New York Times(op ed), Howard Markel accompanying chart describing American epidemics

“Lessons of 1976: flu, fear, wasted millions,” ,” Globe & Mail, Howard Markel

“Looking Back at Previous Flu Outbreaks,” Good Morning America Weekend, Howard Markel
then select “Looking Back at Previous Flu Outbreaks” from the May 2 hotlist 

“Blaming Mexicans for swine flu harms public health efforts,” Detroit News, Howard Markel, Alexandra Stern

May 3

"Fatality rate is a focus of worries,” Ann Arbor News, Howard Markel

“Del. must weigh drastic flu scenarios,” Delaware News Journal, Alexandra Stern

May 5

“Co-operation only effective tool to fight pandemic,” StarPhoenix, Howard Markel

“Some flu pandemics less deadly than others,” Associated Press, Howard Markel