(CNN) -- As the number of swine flu cases rises around the world, so is a gradual backlash -- with some saying the threat the virus poses is overblown.
Workers in South Korea, where one case of swine flu is confirmed, disinfect a terminal Sunday at Incheon airport.
By Sunday, 898 cases of the virus, known as influenza A (H1N1), had been confirmed in 18 countries, the World Health Organization said. The number of fatalities was at 20, including one in the United States.
"There is too much hysteria in the country and so far, there hasn't been that great a danger," said Congressman Ron Paul, a Republican from Texas. "It's overblown, grossly so."
Paul, who was a freshman congressman during a swine flu outbreak in 1976, said Congress voted to inoculate the whole country at the time.
Twenty-five people died from the inoculation while one person was killed by the flu, Paul said, adding that he voted against inoculation. 
The United States' only death this year from the virus was a 22-month-old boy in Texas who was visiting from Mexico. The other 19 deaths happened in Mexico.
"I wish people would back off a little bit," Paul said.
Others shared Paul's sentiment, saying the fear of the flu has gotten out of hand.
"We have people without symptoms going into the emergency rooms asking to be screened for swine flu at the expense of people with real illness," said Cathy Gichema, a nurse in Pikesville, Maryland.
"Schools are being shut for probable causes -- sending these kids congregating to the malls. How is that helping?" Gichema said.
Dr. Mark Bell, principal of Emergent Medical Associates, which operates 18 emergency departments in Southern California, said the level of fear is unprecedented. - CNN News Story
I have been wondering and asking the same thing. We have a flu season here were single schools will have an outbreak of 20, 30, or more out with it at a single time. They don't close down those schools. Heck, it doesn't even make the nightly news.
Have we overblown this whole thing?
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