Swine Flu Measures

This year the world was, and continues to be, swept by an unprecedented outbreak of Influenza A H1N1 virus pandemic. The virus was initially known as “swine flu” as it was thought to have originated from pigs in Mexico. The virus initially spread through Mexico and USA but currently more and more cases are being revealed all other the world.

I would say that the world has been dealing the swine flu pandemic quite well. Most countries have taken the basic precautions such as stopping Mexican imports from entering, stocking up on Tamiflu, thermometers and facemasks. Preventive measures are in fact the best measures in the face of a pandemic. In Mexico, the country where the virus was first discovered, numerous schools have closed down and public facilities shut down. Officials have been called in to constantly screen citizens in order to ensure that potential patients are sussed out. Some countries like Egypt even prepared pandemic emergency plans before the swine flu outbreak, limiting the impact of the virus. Another type of safety measure would involve the airport, as the Japanese government booked 500 hotel rooms near the Narita Airport in order to minimise the risk of spreading flu. Many countries including Singapore have put up health screening machines at arrival gates to filter out those with flu symptoms.

As much as there has been immediate efficient response from around the globe, there are still some measures that I feel are overreactions. Take for example the Wan Chai incident, where many suspected swine flu patients were quarantined inside the hotel for a few days. This reflects a rather “kiasi” rationale: the fear that one among the many has contracted swine flu thus everyone must stay put. The incident certainly raised a few eyebrows when it was reported. Mexicans also felt rather offended that some countries such as China banned them from entering the country; they felt like they were to blame for the pandemic instead of the pigs.

Through this pandemic we have definitely seen the ups and downs of various governments; whether they rise to the occasion or crumble under pressure. It is only through these tough times that the fittest survive.