The Lancet Infectious Disease
Jun 2009  Volume 9  Number 6  Pages 331 – 392
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/issue/current

Leading Edge
Putting influenza A H1N1 in its place
The Lancet Infectious Diseases

Writing in London’s Guardian newspaper on May 6, the columnist Simon Jenkins rails against how the dangers of the current influenza A H1N1 outbreak have been exaggerated by the mass media and scientists. He calls for an inquiry into “this fiasco” and, paraphrasing Voltaire, suggests shooting the occasional virologist and perhaps an editor too, “to encourage the others”. Although nominations of colleagues to take a bullet to restore the damaged reputation of our professions may be many, Jenkins seems to have confused scientific uncertainty with hype.