Swine flu epidemic moves closer to a pandemic
Swine flu cases continue to increase. The WHO have upgraded the pandemic level warning to 5, one step short of calling it “imminent”. In Mexico, schools and businesses have closed until at least 6 May. In the US, about 100 schools have closed due to the rise in potential swine flu. In the UK, one school has closed for a week. Businesses in Mexico have suffered due to the shut-downs and travel restrictions. This can only worsen the global recession crisis.
Though a flu pandemic is a potentially serious crisis, the world is more prepared than it has been in the past. So far, the virus appears to be responding to anti-viral therapy. Nevertheless, there is always concern that the virus may mutate, which would make it more virulent.
Are we overreacting to this new strain of the flu? Or, could it be another SARS-like epidemic? Whatever the case, vigilance is necessary, including measures to reduce the spread of the virus. We should be grateful for the fact that the illness is still treatable at this stage.
