Here’s a scary statement of fact: Building management for our office is taking its cues about swine flu from the “ongoing media coverage.”

Ongoing sensationalism is more like it. The only thing worse would be if the managers heeded the hysterical of so-called leaders like, say, Vice President Joe Biden.

At any rate, here’s the memo circulated today:

At this time, we would like to inform you of our [swine flu] preparations, including:

• Increasing refill stock for hand soap and paper towels for common area restrooms;
• Checking with contractors to verify that routine cleaning procedures are in place and that stepped-up cleaning services are ready;
• Confirming that contractors have briefed their employees;
• Confirming that contractors have preparations for absenteeism.

We are subscribed to local alert systems.

All tenants are encouraged to stay informed and follow appropriate precautions as recommended by the CDC. Each business may also consider reviewing its contingency plans. At a minimum, employees should be advised to thoroughly wash their hands on a regular basis, avoid touching hands to face and to cover coughs or sneezes with a tissue. Some tenants are also providing hand sanitizer for employees and keeping some face masks in stock. …

In case of a confirmed swine flu diagnosis in your office, please notify building services as soon as possible.

I’m just thankful they called it “swine flu” instead of using the World Health Organization’s new piggishly correct terminology, “H1N1 Influenza A.”

I’m also glad that I am blessed to be able to work from home about half the time and that our children are home-schooled. While the talk of a pandemic at this point is overblown, it’s hard not to be concerned precisely because the government and the media are hyping the potential threat.