Beit-as-Suhaymi -- Cairo, Egypt
Ever since the first few people were hit with a strain of H1N1 Swine Flu, the world's response has been recorded by the media in precise detail.
I remember sitting in my apartment in Egypt, being simultaneously shocked and amused that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak had decided to commission the mass slaughter of all Egyptian swine in late April. In Mubarak's defense, Egypt was hit hard with the avian flu strain (H5N1), and decided that it was in his country's best interest to kill the 400,000 something pigs that roamed the mostly Coptic Christian neighborhoods of Cairo to calm any impending panic in the populous nation. However, the pigs are the main source of livelyhood for the Coptics, many of whom live in abject poverty and are Cairo's best means of getting rid of organic waste.
Mubarak's reactionwhile, certainly severe, was only one of the slew of amusing reactions to the flu. As more information about the flu has become apparent and we can now safely browse the internet and watch the television without repeatedly hearing the words influenza and pandemic (and more of Iran, Madoff, Michael Jackson) , it seems that swine flu is still making the headlines as world leaders (and others) react to the pandemic.
In Serbia, the thousands of athletes performing in the World University Games will only be able to participate upon showing health certificate proof of not having swine flu. According to New Zealand chef de mission Lynne Coleman, the restirictions are 'impractical.' She doesn't believe the impositions in place will work. I'm not sure what's funnier, that New Zealand's upset about Serbia's reaction, or that Serbia's asking students from 140 different countries for the alleged health certificate. [The New Zealand Herald]
Taking a different approach to a similar stance, Wimbledon has gone out of its way to downplay fears of swine flu, but four ball boys and girls have been asked to stay at home because of flu like symptoms. Wimbledon officials, keeping in their usual classy modus operandi, have claimed that sending the unfortunate boys and girls home was just a precaution and the gathering of some England's most elite in close quarters will not be any more or less dangerous than strolling the streets of busy London. [The Times Online]
Because younger people and the elderly are more likely to contract the disease, they are being urged to skip out on the upcoming pilgrimage to Mecca. After a four day long conference in Jiddah, which experts from the CDC and the WHO attended, to examine the Kingdom's measures to prevent the flu's spread. I just want to point out that these concerns were raised post the Egyptian Health Minister's claim that the tens of thousands of Egytian muslims performing hajj this year risked being quarantined upon return. [The Washington Post]
The swine flu story winner, however goes to the The New York Times. The article makes it seem as though summer camps in the United States are dealing with the biggest hardship in light of the recent pandemic. (Not Mexico, where the tourism related economy has severely declined). According to the article, the camps have to revisualize their entire way of structuring the seven-eight week camps. What happens when a child begins exhibiting flu like symptoms? What happens if more than one child at the camp becomes infected? How do they contain the illness? Well, shucks. For all the parents wanting to ship their kids of to teach them responsibility while standing at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, swine flu may be making a dent (financial and metaphorical) in your plans. (The article was brought to my attention by Akbar Ahmed).
0 comments:
Post a Comment