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Commentary

Nature 459, 322-323 (21 May 2009) | doi:10.1038/459322a; Published online 20 May 2009

Open Innovation Challenges

Pandemics: good hygiene is not enough

Peter M. Sandman1

  1. Peter M. Sandman is a risk-communication consultant, 59 Ridgeview Road, Princeton, New Jersey 08540-7601, USA.
    Email: peter@psandman.com

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The US government is doing well to communicate uncertainty over swine flu. It must also help the public to visualize what a bad pandemic might be like, says Peter M. Sandman.

By the time you read this, the outbreak of H1N1 'swine flu' may no longer seem to be a worldwide threat and the disease may have receded from the headlines. As the initial fuss dies down, public-health experts will remain on high alert, but the media and public will move on to something else, muttering about fear-mongering.