Is it just us, or has the swine flu gotten a lot cuter this week? First there was the stuffed H1N1 virus doll, and now the U.S. government has enlisted in the fight against swine flu none other than Elmo the Muppet. By teaming up the Sesame Street characters Elmo and Gordon, the government hopes to spread the word about the importance of personal hygiene, such as sneezing into your arm and washing your hands frequently. CNN reports:
"We are thrilled to partner with Elmo, Gordon, and Sesame Workshop again to emphasize the steps kids and their parents can take to stay happy and healthy this school year," Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said in a statement. "Younger children and their parents are some of the people most at risk from the new H1N1 flu virus and with schools starting back up again and the weather starting to get colder, we need to do everything we can to get these important messages about how to prevent the spread of the flu out there."
Also, check out the CNN article for an amusing photo of Elmo at a speaking engagement with Sebelius. Whether he's considered a "government employee" remains unknown. Related Content: Discoblog: Fuzzy, Cuddly Swine Flu: The Next Big Holiday Toy? Discoblog: A Bishop Calls for Holy Water Ban to Stop Swine Flu Spread Discoblog: Want to Up Your Chances of Dying From Swine Flu? Be Obese Discoblog: Worried About Swine Flu? Perhaps Your iPhone Will Save You
Image: flickr / mark sebastian
