Divvy Kant Upadhyay, Manipal
A popular SMS that recently did rounds went something like this: “It was once said that the day USA would have a ‘black’ president, Pigs would fly. No wonder, within 100 days of president Obama’s taking oath, 'Swine flu'!” Irony is that pigs are not even directly involved in the spread of this disease, but flying - something that millions are involved in daily has become an issue of grave concern.
At that time, almost two months ago, that SMS may have spoken about the Influenza – A (H1N1) virus in a lighter vein. But the issue is now hot with more than 109 suspected cases testing positive in India alone. Addressing the Rajya Sabha on Thursday July 2, Union health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said,"There have been 109 cases so far of which 70 (patients) have already gone back (from the hospital). Fortunately, no deaths have taken place in India,"Azad said of the 109 cases, there was "imported virus" in 100. Among these patients, 70 per cent came from US alone. On the preparedness of the government, he said 45,000 people are screened daily at the international airports and in 48 days, 26 lac people have been screened.
For the thousands flying in and out of India every day, it has become very confusing on whether to carry on with their travel plans or not.
Health warnings aside, common sense and apprehension may force people to postpone their plans, but it certainly becomes a dicey situation for businessmen or executives who may have fixed important meetings with international clients or partners months in advance. Several NRIs wanting to come home are also perplexed about the situation. With WHO declaring the viral flu attack as a global pandemic, concerns have certainly risen. But health analysts believe, the WHO grading is borne out of the large geographical extent to which the virus has travelled. Exactly three weeks ago 74 countries officially reported 29,669 cases of influenza A (H1N1) infection, including 145 deaths. On July 3, 2009 the tally stands at 89,921 cases and 382 fatalaties.
Nearly two months ago on May 7 the WHO said in a statement that imposing travel restrictions would have very little effect on stopping the virus from spreading and could be highly disruptive to the global community.
The statement also said that Influenza A (H1N1) has already been confirmed in many parts of the world. The global response now focuses on minimizing the impact of the virus through the rapid identification of cases, and providing patients with appropriate medical care, rather than on stopping its spread internationally.
Stating that identifying signs and symptoms of influenza in travelers can help track the path of the outbreak, the statement added that “Scientific research based on mathematical modelling shows that restricting travel would be of limited or no benefit in stopping the spread of disease. Historical records of previous influenza pandemics, as well as experience with SARS, validate this”
Director-General of the World Health Organization, Dr Margaret Chan on July 4 addressed a high-level meeting at Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico. Her message left little doubt about WHO’s policy on international travel. She said: "The fact that we are gathered here in Cancun, Mexico, reaffirms a statement consistently made by WHO since the new H1N1 virus was first detected. Recommendations to avoid travel to Mexico, or to any other country or area with confirmed cases, serve no purpose. They do not protect the public. They do not contain the outbreak. And they do not prevent further international spread… once a fully fit pandemic virus emerges, its further international spread is unstoppable."