Influenza Outbreak :: Journalism Media Studies Health Essays

Influenza Outbreak Four years ago the good citizens of this city voted to allow city funds to be allocated toward a new civic center located in the heart of Irvine. Four years ago the good citizens of this great city had no idea that a terrible pandemic would threaten their very lives and the lives of their loved ones. When signs of the flu season came around in late October this year, no one would have imaged that a disease, often with symptoms like a common cold, would have by the end of the year killed almost half of those killed in the Great War itself. Places all across the nation have had to deal with the sick and dying and Irvine is no exception. This week alone there have been reportedly 3369 new cases of influenza resulting in 60 deaths. This is a staggering jump from last week's amount of 1200 cases. This week's newest count has prompted city officials to call a special session in order to decide on how to deal with the outbreak in monetary terms. The State of California has already given Irvine all that it can until more Federal Aid can be released. In an overwhelming 5-0 vote the city council decided to divert the money set aside for construction of the new civic center and allocate those funds toward medical equipment and vaccines to help fight the deadly disease. Mayor Beth Krom stated that, "It was the only logical thing to do. With the city not receiving anymore State or Federal aid anytime soon it was only right that priorities be rearranged." In a news conference Council member Sukhee Kang was quoted as saying "I mean we're talking about lives here, not a few slabs of concrete and steel. What good is a civic center if there's no one to seat in it?" The civic center, which was set to open May 16, 1919, will be left standing half complete and no new date has been set as to when construction will resume. If things continue to go in this direction then the civic center may never be finished. In the long run this may end up hurting the city financially. A lot of money was invested into the project in hopes that it would help make Irvine the cultural capital of Southern California which would translate into more people and more business.