EDITORIAL PANIC ATTACK DON'T LET FLU AND TERRORISM THREATS RUIN THE HOLIDAYS.

AS the holiday season gets into high gear, many of use are experiencing a mix of cheer and fear - fear of unknown and unseen enemies.

The last-minute shopping trip to the mall, the office holiday party or even the plane trip to the grandparents - all have taken on an air of risk. Americans have been warned for weeks about the onslaught of the flu, and, last weekend, the federal government warned that terrorists might be plotting to ruin our holidays.

And, if that hasn't made us jittery enough, Monday's earthquake in Central California literally shook us up, showing us that even the ground we walk on is unstable.

But don't panic yet.

Consider this: So far, this season of the flu has been no worse than other years, despite the hype, except that it started early. It caused a rush on vaccines and a subsequent shortage. ``We're seeing more fear of flu than anything else,'' one San Fernando Valley doctor said.

As for the terror alert, it's become a regular tradition since 9-11 to raise the country's threat level during times of collective celebration.

That's not to say we ought to discount either. Influenza is a serious killer; every year, an estimated 36,000 people die from it in the United States, 1,000 in Los Angeles County. That alone is reason to take pains to avoid it.

And everyone knows how much devastation an act of terrorism can wreak. So it's good thing to follow the warnings to be aware of surrounding and people, not just now, but always.

We live in a changed country since 9-11. But there's no reason to scare ourselves unnecessarily, especially during the holidays.