It is easy to yell “hype” when this pandemic seems to be a bit of a fizzle. Think again. A fairly good worldwide response in terms of action and communication should make us all feel a bit less worried when the next viral mutant appears. And important lessons were learned — we can do even better next time.
SHOOT: A Pandemic (a mass kill-off) is inevitable, since the source criteria remain in place - industrialised livestock farming, a massive carnivorous human population, pollution and unhygienic farming and lifestyle conditions. Thus it is good to learn to respond effectively, and this recent excursion should be considered a test run. Pandemic flu remains imminent.
SHOOT: A Pandemic (a mass kill-off) is inevitable, since the source criteria remain in place - industrialised livestock farming, a massive carnivorous human population, pollution and unhygienic farming and lifestyle conditions. Thus it is good to learn to respond effectively, and this recent excursion should be considered a test run. Pandemic flu remains imminent.
The time for Monday-morning quarterbacking has arrived: Was the swine flu pandemic just a lot of hype or did the world mount a credible response to a very real threat and tamp it down? What are the take-home lessons from the great swine flu scare of 2009? First, there will be other viruses. This strain has not shown the lethal power that public health officials feared. Another strain might. And more are coming. Viruses don’t lollygag. Second, we need better worldwide surveillance of deaths and outbreaks. Third, we don’t have enough capacity to make flu vaccine. Finally, we need to be ready to coordinate our pandemic plans. They’re not all on the same page. In the event of a widespread, deadly outbreak, they must be in sync.
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