TWITTER: How to use it to understand swine flu story

This blogpost has been mentioned in a Newsday piece on the topic . Please note that my quote should read: 

"Twitter is a mixture of the office water cooler and the best possible news sources, and that is a deadly combination," Sreenivasan said. "It puts the onus on the reader, the user, to filter to find information he or she can trust." [the "s" in news sourceS got accidentally dropped].

If anyone wants to discuss this, I am at sree[at]sree.net or Tweet me @sreenet 


Also see Jsource's tips on how the media should cover the outbreak , by Mary Taylor, veteran health reporter.


*** Tweet this: http://bit.ly/twflu 

MY SPECIAL PAGE FOR TWITTER NEWBIES AND SKEPTICS:

http://bit.ly/twitterideas

In addition to sharing the health tips below, I wanted to share how I am following the news and info on Twitter... Stay healthy - and calm!


[post comments below or tweet me at @sreenet to suggest additional resources, new Twitter feeds, etc, etc]

* See Swine Flu Tracker on Google Maps
* Flu Vaccine Stockpiles Report: (via ParthaBose) Impressive but sobering facts on flu vaccine stockpiles - detailed report for WHO and Gates - http://bit.ly/whostudy 
* See Mashable tips on how to track swine flu online 

CDC: http://twitter.com/CDCEmergency
BreakingNewsOnline: http://twitter.com/breakingnews (good for all breaking news)
Michael von Poppel: http://twitter.com/mpoppel (livetweeting about flu)
SwineFluWatch: http://twitter.com/SwineFluWatch (David Burnia's tweets)

Saturday, April 25: from von Poppel's tweets of the NY health commissioner's press conf about Queens outbreak:

* New York Health Commissioner says anyone who is feeling sick should stay at home, urges people not to go to school or work when sick.

* Anyone who's been ill for 48+ hour is unlikely to benefit from threatment

* incubation period is about 3 days

* "We don't know if it will continue to spread"

* Definite confirmation of swine flu will be available tomorrow

CDC main swine flu page: http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/ 

CDC FLU TIPS... http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/investigation.htm?s_cid=tw_epr_59

EXCERPT:
There are everyday actions people can take to stay healthy.

   * Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
   * Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
   * Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.

Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

   * Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.
   * If you get sick, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

MY SPECIAL PAGE FOR TWITTER NEWBIES AND SKEPTICS:
http://bit.ly/twitterideas

Prof. Sree Sreenivasan | sree@sree.net
Dean of Student Affairs, Columbia Graduate School of Journalism
http://www.sree.net | http://www.sreetips.com
Also on Facebook, LinkedIn,
Twitter - http://twitter.com/sreenet

*** Tweet this: http://bit.ly/twflu