Swine flu has become an international threat which is growing more and more dangerous. It started in Mexico and spread to US first and then to all kind of countries. For instance, England,Scotland.Australia or Spain has already been exposed. There are already around 200 deaths in Mexico and it seems to be going on a rise. It is now on a level 6 threat ; global pandemic.
The question that is on everyone's mind is :Will it spread to Mauritius? Will we be next on the list of the victims of this epidemic? Some epidemiologists have commented that no one is safe; it IS an international danger after all. What are the precautions can be done now? I don't think we are safe,even if we are far away from these countries There is also an epidemic of "meningite" in Africa as well.
Tourists are also a problem. What do we do with the tourists that come form these infected countries? Do we let them in or not? I don't know if our country can afford to lose more tourists at this time where there is another impending doom on us: THE RECESSION. The WHO already made a conference saying that pig can be imported and consumed without any risks. When the meat is cooked,the virus is inactivated. So a refusal to import pig is not necessary. This virus is from a human to human transfer now.
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As you rightly said, Karen, the virus is from human to human. No need to make a get into hysteria when you come close to a pig. Yet it would be foolish not to take precautions. Have you ever heard of `the virus has evolved`? Yes? No? Maybe?
ReplyDeleteWell for those who don’t know, the properties of the virus may change. For example, the virus could instead of being from man to man, it could become from animal to man which may result into an epidemic. This is what I fear.
As long as it resembles like `the chikungunya`, it can be called ok in a certain sense. You just have to control mosquitoes. But how do you expect to put large number of people into quarantine? Will it be another remake of the malaria?
I have faith in science and am sure that a vaccine will be on its way to fully cure infected people.
As for tourism, I agree with the ministry of health who has made precautions concerning tourists from those countries. A `bilan de santé` will have to be provided to the air crew before getting on board and coming to Mauritius.
If any case is suspected at the airport, provision has been made to take to person immediately to Nehru hospital.
You might be saying that we will lose tourists. Well think of it.
Would you want to exclude only certain risky countries rather than the real disease spreading in Mauritius and that the whole world does not want to visit us? We would have more to lose if we are not careful enough though we are in a recession.
Your article tends to deal with the consequences of Swine flu on the Mauritian economy. I've posted an article, "Analysis of Swine flu", which mainly provides information on the transmission, symptoms & treatments of the Swine flu. Check it out!
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