Turn on any news program these days and you’ll probably be exposed to high levels of irrational fear and paranoia of the Ebola virus. Never mind that the number of cases in North America is minuscule, or that you have a higher chance of being struck by lightning. Yes, it is an ongoing tragedy in several countries in West Africa (see image below), and the global medical community needs to continue efforts to stamp it out. But throughout North America the news industry should stick to a simple and effective message:

“Ebola is still a very low-risk proposition. If you want to do something effective about your health, get a flu shot.”

That way maybe we’d stop having all these “A Bowl o’ News” programs. In the meantime, here’s a little jingle (sung to the catchy part of “Non più andrai” from Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro):

“If you live then you might catch Ebola,”
On the news show says every asshole-ah,
“Catch a virus and turn into jelly!
Fear Ebo-, fear Ebo-, fear Ebo-, la, la, la, la, la.”

CDC’s map of the 2014 Ebola Outbreak in West Africa (29 Oct).