Speaking of swine flu — Peter Doshi, a doctoral student in MIT’s History, Anthropology, and Science, Technology, and Society program (winner of the weirdest placement of “ands” in an organization’s name) says we may be overreacting to H1N1:

The sudden emphasis on laboratory testing for H1N1 in the first weeks of the outbreak, particularly in the U.S., produced what I call concern bias, in which concern and anxiety may drive events more than the disease itself.

Microfluidics CEO Mike Ferrara

Meanwhile, New Scientist reports the threat posed by swine flu is deadly serious.  

Whichever view pans out, Newton-based medical devices company Microfluidics is betting on demand for an H1N1 vaccine being big. MHT staff writer Julie Donnelly talked to CEO Mike Ferrara last week:

As demand for seasonal and H1N1 flu vaccine skyrockets, the Newton-based company is aiming to cash in as one of a relatively few companies experienced in mixing vaccines with adjuvants — substances that may be added to the vaccines to make them work better. 

Via Boston.com.