The swine flu outbreak presents many challenges for the government: 

       Among them, making sure people take the common sense precautions to keep the flu from spreading and at the same time, preventing a panic.

        Tucson"s Doctor Richard Carmona prepared for that kind of challenge when he served as the US Surgeon General.

     Our interview with Doctor Carmona is only on 9.

     As Surgeon General of the US, Doctor Richard Carmona was the country's medical educator in chief. He says in a case like swine flu the best medicine government can give is a prescription for calm.

      Some frightening images come with this fast moving flu that's brought illness and death.

     But most people have recovered just fine.

     Jeannette Hamby thinks media coverage has inflated a threat you can beat with decent hygiene.

        "Having lived in Africa for 30 years and seeing everything from the Rift Valley Fever to cholera and typhoid and schistosomiasis and all the rest of the diseases I'm just not too worried."

        Doctor Carmona says, "Most of the Americans that have been infected are doing quite well.  They're sick; but we get a cold and we're sick.  That's not something that's reported in the media."

       As US Surgeon General, Carmona prepared for the day something like this would raise public fear that he would have to put in perspective.

        "You want to put yourself in that other person's shoes, who doesn't understand the science and say, how can I give them this information so that they're better prepared and yet reassure them that with this information things will go well."

        Doctor Carmona's been conferring with his old colleagues in the government and says the swine flu is no more lethal than the typical winter flu that makes millions miserable, but kills maybe 35 thousand each year.

        Doctor Carmona says,"The important, real leadership needs to come from the state and local health departments to make sure that their communities are educated and understand what actions they need to take."

        Federal, state and local governments often run simulations on how to respond to epidemics.

        Doctor Carmona says the swine flu cases will be a valuable real world test so we'll all be better prepared if there's another disease outbreak.