Pandemics; Publics; and Narrative

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Book Description

According to research, future pandemics of influenza are likely unavoidable because different strains of the virus change into new forms. Pandemics, Publics, and Narrative (PDF) is an e-book that investigates how the general public experienced the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus outbreak. It does so by collecting narratives about individuals' perceptions of their illness, as well as reflections on vaccination, social isolation, the news, and other infection control measures. Keeping this unsettling reality in mind, the book examines how the general public experienced the outbreak. The narratives that emerged later when the virus turned out to be significantly less dangerous than initially thought are discussed in the ebook as well. These narratives begin with the messages to “be alert; not alarmed” at the beginning of the outbreak and continue through the narratives that emerged later when the virus turned out to be significantly less dangerous.

Pandemics, Publics, and Narrative develops a novel ‘public health narrative' approach that is of interest to health communicators and researchers across the social and health sciences. This book provides an unprecedented insight into the lives of ordinary people who are confronted with the specter of a potentially lethal virus. It also draws on currents in the socio-cultural scholarship of illness narrative; narrative; and narrative medicine.