“The subsequent failure to come to any global consensus about how swine flu should be treated is producing as many medical reactions as there are national governments.”

“Before 'that panic was ridiculous' becomes the conventional wisdom, let's be frank about it: Where infectious diseases are concerned, panic is good.”

“Ignorance may not be bliss, but when it comes to H1N1, the less you know, the better it may be for you.”

“Despite all the processes of globalization that are said to be leading us toward nature's great comeuppance, trend lines indicate we are better equipped than ever to minimize the effects of a pandemic.”

“The flu crisis should be a wake-up call, a reminder that one of our vulnerabilities to the possible pandemic is our deeply flawed medical system.”

“Take a deep breath. Wash your hands. And for Joe's sake, stay out of closed containers.”

“[Congressman Paul Broun], you just exploited a dead baby to make your sick, xenophobic and utterly irrelevant case about immigration.”

“Having the vice president tell a national television audience it's a bad idea to fly and ride the subway is not only unhelpful, it also goes much further than government recommendations to the public.”

“[Risk analysis experts] told me that if someone were looking for a legitimate potential disaster to worry about, a deadly flu pandemic would be an excellent choice.”

“Democrats wasted no time in laying responsibility for the swine flu outbreak at the doorstep of -- you guessed it -- evil Republicans!”

“It is worth reminding ourselves that if we want the WHO to be there when we need it, the organization must be constantly monitored and fully funded.”