WE were all fascinated by the pandemic that wasn’t (bird flu) and the resultant swathes of potential victims that ignored the pleas of the media and didn’t die. However, readers’ interest must now be roused by the latest panic – swine flu (Echo, April 25).

Gagging over their bacon sandwiches, the nation waits agog for the next wave of something new to worry about.

Whatever will be next, one wonders? Will tortoise flu ever claim its rightful place in the echelons of medical history.

Can we consign weasel flu to a mere irritation? We need to be told.

Credit crunch is history, folks – get with the flu programme.

Chris Greenwell, Darlington.