Pondering the swine flu
There are two things I ponder about the swine flu. Can the precautions we take make any real difference? How long will our media sustain the almost-hourly case count, particularly as later today our overburdened health authorities’ switch from their containment strategy to a management strategy?
Well, actually there is a third question, none of us wants to appear selfish, but if and when we contract this disease, will there be any Tamiflu tablets left?
To give them credit, our media have made a good fist of passing on to us the handy hints for avoidance and treatment from the Ministry of Health. However the media’s serious interest won’t last. My cue for this is the Australian media. Victoria has become the swine flu capital of the South Pacific, and it appears they’ve stopped counting long since. Their focus now is on quirky stories like the stir-crazy Australian lacrosse team quarantined in South Korea.
The media for good or for ill want to take polarizing positions. So one news organisation will run the ‘swine flu’ is overhyped angle and use the not related comparison of ‘y2k’ as evidence, their competitor will focus on the growing disruptive cost of the flu and its victim count. Then they’ll swap angles until they get tired.
It seems that an important frontier of managing this flu is the workplace, and the key to this is clear communications to staff and management about their obligations to their workmates, i.e. keep away if you’ve got flu symptoms. These messages need to be reinforced, particularly among those segments of the workforce where staying at home may mean being out of work and unpaid. Maybe such people will have to be cut some slack in the interests of their workmates?
I don’t think we will all get swine flu, or even 60% of us, if we take care of ourselves and others.
Tags: Ministry of Health, swine flu, Tamiflu
June 19th, 2009 at 11:54 am
I have some Tamiflu in storage from the last scare – must check the expiry date. I was under the impression that there was enough of it now for everyone should we need it.
While Melbourne has become the ‘hot spot’ for swine flu infected cases vs actual population still only equates to less 0.04 percent (yes I worked it out).
June 19th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
I was in HK last week and I have to say I admire their absolute stringency around this latest flu outbreak. As you arrive you walk through a temperature screen test and everyone is required to fill out a form and talk to a health official. If you’re sick you have to wear a mask, public places were being constantly sterilised, cleaners were everywhere and all primary schools were shut for two weeks. It was interesting to see it all take place and since the bird flu, HK is a cleaner place than Auckland! Please feel free to debate this with me.
On masks: Why won’t westerner’s wear them? Looks like Heidi and Spencer are so let’s follow their lead. If I get sick, I’m going to wear one.
Another quick comment – does anyone else feel sorry for the airlines. No one is flying because of the recession and this is the double whammy they didn’t need.
June 19th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
On masks. People aren’t wearing them because they’re totally ineffective. They may block some of the airborne viruses from entering/exiting – but basically you’d need to tie a plastic bag tightly around your neck (covering your whole head) to get an effective barrier. There are some disadvantages to that…
I was also in Bangkok airport recently and noticed many people wearing masks, but removing them to talk, scratch, oh and here’s a good one….spit! Effective?…hmmm
I love the photo though!
June 19th, 2009 at 2:57 pm
Business opportunity – designer facemasks©
June 19th, 2009 at 3:08 pm
Simon – Hello Kitty are doing them in HK!