More information means further ignorance

One great thing about Internet is the fastest information across the world in seconds. So we know instantly if there is any serious accident or a bird-flu case somewhere hundreds or thousands miles away.

But such great thing may not be good at all because many would have panic on every incidence.

A simple fact is that with the scale of the whole world, we shall have natural accidents etc. in somewhere every day.

A dozen died of bird flu in months does not mean anything in compare of the death of other medical cases that are in thousands or more.

Of course, the WHO and most governments have to follow such type of events and do their duties to avoid pandemic. We need not worry too much otherwise we may be dead from heart disease even before anything would happen.

From what is going on for the past few months, I am sure that there is a problem about West distrusts East. Even a migrating bird died in Asia (China, Vietnam etc.), there would be taken very seriously. Yet, the same case in European countries would be taken slightly.

The next one is all reporting will take one part of something and never follow up to clear up any disturbing result from the preliminary journal. Just like the linking of 1918 virus to the bird flu has greatly frightened everyone. If you have read such reporting, please read "Hazard in Hunt for New Flu: Looking for Bugs in All the Wrong Places" (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/08/science/08flu.html) to have a better understanding.

This type of misleading news is not new at all. In fact, there have been many cases like that before.

I do appreciate those who give us information instantly. But I do hope that they can take up the responsibilities to let us know the follow up findings in the same coverage and highlighting.