I tend to stick to NPR for my news, so I am spared the "hype" as they focus on calmly delivering the facts. I suspect one reason this thing has spread so far is because we're in the heart of cold and flu season; it might have taken quite some time for someone to realize what was happening. On the surface the Chinese government seems to be striving to keep everyone informed which is probably the best way to combat panicky misinformation.
That said, like many others here, I started hearing "Don't Fear the Reaper" in my head when the news started circulating...
That said, like many others here, I started hearing "Don't Fear the Reaper" in my head when the news started circulating...