Silliness in the flu season

After a week of working to secure H1N1 vaccinations for my family to try to prevent my 11-year-old with leukemia from having to endure yet another hospital stay and a morning of fighting to bring down my 10-year-old's 102-plus fever (seems those shots scheduled for November may come too late for us), including having to tell him there wouldn't be any trick-or-treating this year, I stole a moment to check how the Washington Capitals did Friday. Then another headline on the front of the Sports section caught my eye.

I am outraged that a player who was vomiting, sweating and feeling clammy was allowed to compete in a high school football game ["Hornets' Lucas sweats it out," Sports, Oct. 31]. I pray that none of the other players come down with his illness and that this player doesn't suffer a serious setback after overexerting himself while so ill. Where was the adult common sense?

Shame on everyone involved, including The Post for praising this action and giving it front-page billing in the Sports section.

Margaret Norris, Kensington

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Regarding the Oct. 29 front-page article "Tamiflu shortages have parents on wild dose chase":

It is ridiculous that The Post has dedicated so much of the A section the past several weeks to the swine flu outbreak. Being a young "survivor" of the swine flu, I have to say that it was the most anticlimactic experience I have ever had. No deathbed, no fever.

The way the media continue to portray the virus is creating unnecessary panic around the world. Many people infected with the virus don't even know they have it. The public should be outraged at news outlets that have caused mass hysteria and a mad rush for vaccines, medication and hand sanitizer.

Cara Morefield, Herndon