Hypo-avio-chondria?

Public Health officials are using such terms as "could be", "may be", "what if", & "might" in relation to the potential pandemic caused by this Avian (or bird) flu. While they are pointing out that it will "most likely" only have long-term, debilitating effects on the very young & very old -- which certainly isn't a good thing -- they're stirring up absolute hysteria (ala Hitchcock's "The Birds") over this possibility.

What is it about this possibility that has so many up in arms, when our own president is surrounded by countless possible "wrong doings", conspiracies, & planned disasters?

Is this, perhaps, yet another distraction handed down by the White house...?