Television is one of the main sources of health information for the general public and health professionals. The aim of this paper is to analyze the coverage of the influenza A(H1N1) 2009 by the main Brazilian infotainment program, Fantástico, broadcast on Sunday prime time. We studied Fantástico coverage through quantitative and qualitative content analysis. A(H1N1) flu generated a sustained coverage that started on the 26th April and finished on the 16th August 2009. We found 16 stories, which were most often built on the spread of the disease, presenting epidemiological data as numerators without denominators, and using words such as "alarm", "concern" and "panic". The most frequently mentioned sources were governmental authorities and the most frequently heard voices were average citizens. Containment measures appeared in most stories, highlighting the use of surgical masks and the correct washing of hands. Recommendations were also frequently made by physicians and symptoms were described in most stories. Our results suggest that Fantástico kept a tone of concern along its coverage of the new flu, both through the text and the images used to compose its narratives.
Television; Coverage; Influenza A(H1N1) 2009
