Seems to me like someone may be crying wolf about the Bird Flu.
Maybe not however, and pandemic is a possibility for which few are prepared. But few are also prepared for natural disasters, civil unrest and numerous other things too.

This is a major point that you mention. Sorting through the chaff (big pharma propaganda to actual news reports with all of the drama thrown in) to get to the wheat (factual information) leaves many in confusion as to what to believe, on a day by day basis!

I am beginning to think much of the "news" is 75% pure hype!