OK, enough has been written about the most unwanted flu on earth, but how can I not comment on it? :)
Just some random thoughts as they come...
I hate the turn it has taken, almost a doomsday scenario being painted by the press and news channels, and I hate it. I think the media should desist from creating panic, and instead be objective and true.
Yes, we have swine flu, and it's contageous, and we have 400 cases. But there have been lakhs of cases in the West! We are a country of a billion people. Yes twenty have died, and maybe a lot more will follow. But what about the history of the deaths? Why not reassure people that proper timely treatment can cure it? How about letting people know that those who died did so because of complications related to chronic heart or lung diseases?
Why not give constructive suggestions about cleaniless, and hygiene? Why not reasure people?
On the other hand, maybe panic is a good thing after all? Maybe people wouldn't take things so seriously!
Maybe it's good to shut down the cities after all!
I think we need to praise the government in the way it is trying to handle the flu> Screening passengers, trying to contain the disease, getting political parties together to try and cancel public religious celebrations... remember, we are a poor country with limited resources, and I think we are doing fantastic in terms of trying to contain this virus.
At the end of the day, like every other such calamity, I am sure man will survive, and come out wiser. I am sure the vaccines are coming out as I write...
Till then,
Wash your hands regularly, keep hand sanitizers with you at all times, and keep your hands away from your mouth and nose
Don't cough or sneeze unless you cover your mouth and nose (this is to protect OTHERS!)
Keep your mouth and nose away from others - especially if they are sneezing or coughing - DO NOT KISS!
If you see flu-like symptoms, consult your GP - don't rush to the swine flu testing center! Common cold and flu is common!
And overall, don't panic.
3 comments:
Totally agree with you on this mate. It was very irresponsible of our health minister to make the statements he made. Keep it simple, keep it real.
I hope you are in the best of health Sir!.. Stay away from those movie theaters and malls even if wifey is sitting on the head shouting in your ears and demanding that latest dress she saw on display :)
I am not sure which statements he made, but one statement that was attributed to him was that 30% of India would get infected in 2 years, and he categorically went on television to confirm that he never said that, and that was a WHO estimate which he said he believed was way out of touch with reality.
I genuinely think that panic was primarily because of the deaths that were being reported. It's ridiculous really. I don't remember the last time this country counted all the people who were dying. And yes, you rightly pointed out - not enough stress was being laid on why those people died, that they had chronic ailments.
Anyway, I'm sure people will get over it soon and get on with their lives. Swine flu will probably stick around for a long time and it will probably become a way of life. Perhaps even go noticed. A regular Joe like you and me will probably just pick up a tambiflu from a pharmacist and forget about it!
If things go really well, maybe we will get a vaccine for it and go about our lives never remembering that swine flu even existed! In any case, life will go on! :)
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