Avian flu finally mutates
We had a big scare about five years ago over Avian Flu. I had a little fun with it then because there was tons of media hype, and no deaths or anything. One here and there just wasn’t justifying the term pandemic. At that time, I had some fun with people who were peddling avian flu masks and such. They went out of business apparently. The links don’t work any more. Now, several years later, we have a real scare going on in Mexico. Apparently it’s finally mutated as predicted and spreads a lot more easily. My plan for right now is simply not to go to Mexico. The White House’s plan right now is to keep an eye on it. They were quick to point out that Obama had been to Mexico recently and wasn’t sick. 68 deaths in Mexico are something to be serious about tho.
However, having been to Mexico myself, about ten years before the outbreak became an issue, I know that the sanitation systems in the US and Mexico are vastly different, as well as medical preparedness. Although I am concerned for the people of Mexico, I’m not terribly concerned living where I do about my own safety. I’m still not ready to consider this a pandemic of the proportions of the 1918 Spanish Flu. The world has developed a lot of medicine since 1918. It definitely is, however, something we need to do more than keep an eye on. Rather than monitoring it, I think the White House needs to be sending medical personel down there ASAP to make sure the Mexicans have all the tools they need to deal with it and end it right there. I just think that’s not necessarily a good response to what’s happening. I’d prefer a lot more aggressive tone. Something like what the World Health Organization mentioned:
Based on this advice, the Director-General has determined that the current events constitute a public health emergency of international concern, under the Regulations.
Concerning public health measures, in line with the Regulations the Director-General is recommending, on the advice of the Committee, that all countries intensify surveillance for unusual outbreaks of influenza-like illness and severe pneumonia.
Better, but I’d still prefer something like “We’re sending Avian Flu busters to Mexico to seek out and destroy any semblence of Avian Flu we encounter.” Monitoring just doesn’t make me feel all that much safer.
