Swine Flu Pointlessly Affecting the Markets?

The Stock Market is at least starting out lower today, oil is down over 5%, and the European Union is advising their citizens not to travel to the United states unless absolutely necessary all because 20 people have a form of the flu, Swine Flu, in the United States. There were more reports in Mexico as well.

Does this sound crazy to you or what? The Swine Flu for those of you who are not aware, had a minor outbreak in the United states in 1976, and pretty much causes the common symptoms we all associate with the flue virus, which is running nose, sneezing, fever, headache, sore throat, vomiting, etc. The virus is initially picked up by people who work around pigs (swine) and then it is spread from human to human just like any flue virus is spread.

Airline, and cruise line stocks are really being hit hard from this news which started to break early this weekend, for fears that an epidemic could slow the travel industry as well as the global economy more then it already has been slowed down by the recession. In my opinion it's likely not going to have a major impact on the bottom line of these or any companies stocks, and it's probably not a bad idea to take this time to consider getting into the airline and cruise line stocks if you have been waiting to.

Of course with these types of things, the media will pick up any negatives they can to try and scare their audience into watching more of their new shows. Be cautious, but also realize that markets often over react in these cases.