There is a new threat in the world, it’s not the fear of the bad economy, it’s not avian flu but it’s a new type of influenza called Swine Flu. Swine flu, also known as H1N1 flu, has been first detected in April 2009 in the United States. It is threat to the people around the world because it is easily transmitted from person to person and it is life threatening.
It is called Swine flu because swine is another word for pig, and according to the WHO, the virus is a subtype with genetic materials from pigs, bird, and humans. Swine flu is actually a respiratory disease which is found in pigs and when a pig is infected by the virus, 1% to 4% dies. However, it is rare that it passes on to people, unless you are working directly with pigs. According to WHO, Swine Flu is currently a Phase 5 outbreak on a 6 point scale, just a level below an official. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_swine_flu_outbreak)
The spread of the virus is contagious and it spread like a normal flu, from person to person. Thus, the preventions of the virus is vital, however, some feel that the people are too overhyped by the situation. The paranoia is getting to some people, but it is better to be prevented from it than getting the virus and curing it. Currently there are no vaccines that can cure the virus. What the WHO advices is to wash your hands frequently with soap as antibacterial just kills bacteria but not virus, and to not touch eyes, noses because the virus can pass through. The symptoms of the flu are like a common cold, sore throat, fever, fatigue, lack of appetite or sometimes runny nose, coughing, vomiting, and diarrhea. If a person feels sick, they should rest at home and if the symptoms get worse, they should immediately visit a doctor. (http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/qa.htm)
Swine flu is not only affecting the health and the lives of the affected people but also the people in the country and maybe even the world as a whole, especially in the economy of the country. According to Standard Chartered, people are afraid to go out of their house and thus, the money is not circulating within the country. Also, the countries that are infected with the virus are having a problem with decrease in the number of tourists. The world is already suffering from the US financial meltdown and swine flu is adding to the economic problems of the world. Many Asian countries are now worried about their tourism sectors as their GDP greatly depends on it, countries such as Hong Kong, Thailand, and Malaysia. Thus it is important to not let the virus spread from country to country. (http://research.standardchartered.com/)
Many Asian countries are now setting up strict surveillance measures are placed in the international airports to check the body temperatures of the passengers landing and coming into the country. People’s body temperatures are checked by video cameras or scanners to detect any passengers who may be infected with the virus. As more than 100s of people are infected in Mexico, big countries with huge populations like India and China is particularly making sure that the virus does not enter the country, as it could be uncontrollable. (http://www.speroforum.com/a/19075/Swine-flu-in-Asia-uncontrolable)
Swine flu has only been introduced for just a month and it has already taken many people’s lives. Many countries and health organizations are putting so much effort into the diseases not spreading any further, however some feel that it is overly hyped and people are overly paranoid. In US, 36,000 people die each year because of flu, it could be said that flu is a serious diseases. Swine flu is just another type of flu that people could die from thus, some are questioning the level of paranoia amongst people. (http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2009-04-26-swine-f) However, it is affecting many countries even to an economic level thus they are fully awake and protecting their country from the virus or preventing it from spreading any further.
