Lady Doesn't Feel Well On Airplane, Overreaction Ensues

Well, I might have to reassess the previous post on how prudent everyone has been in traveling during a flu alert.

Some woman on a United flight from Germany to Washington complained of "flu symptoms," according to news accounts . Pilot decides to divert plane to Boston, where overreaction continues. Let's hope this isn't a trend.

{Update:} I liked some of the reader comments to the story linked to above on the Boston.com Web site (where readers comments also pointed out the obvious error in the news account that said the plane was a 737):

Comments from readers of that Boston Globe story:

---"This has to be the most stupid panic driven move that an airline can make. Flight time from Munich to Boston is 8 hours and 25 minutes. From Munich to Dulles it is 9 hours and 5 minutes. Why would 40 minutes less exposure to influenza make any difference after an already lengthy transatlantic flight. What a ridiculous inconvenience to the passengers and a huge expense for United. ..."

---"Maybe she was just hung over."

---"Come on, enough of the hysteria. Diverting a plane for one person complaining of flu symptoms? Maybe she just felt bad after eating an airline meal. Seriously, enough of the fear-mongering. Stop!"

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