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"The airline industry may be affected badly," declared Chan. |
With the world's attention focused on what appears to be an emerging epidemic, no one seems able to make sense of it all. Swine flu is causing concern to the medical world and is sending panic throughout the world.
Flu Affecting Economy
With the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring the flu, "a public health emergency of international concern," these reports seem to have had an immediate impact on the state of world economy (Daily Nation 1). For starters, the price of oil is reported to have dropped more than two cents, to about US$50 a barrel, after the announcement made by the world body. (Business Daily)
According to Reuters, Daniel Chan, a senior investment strategist at the DBS Bank in Honk Kong, said the effects of swine flu will deepen the global recession.
"All sectors in the stock market may be affected except for health and drugs industries. The airline industry may be affected badly," declared Chan. (Reuters)
The reports have gone as far as to state that scores of people have been infected, some having succumbed to the disease. However, what is clear is the fact that the disease has just begun to be reported on and until there is an incontrovertible scientific explanation of the whole issue, experts argue that the public should not be subjected to unnecessary panic.
"I think everybody should be cautious. People should adopt a wait-and-see approach, instead of jumping into uninformed conclusions," said Professor Gunturu Revathi, a consultant clinical microbiologist at the Department of Pathology at the Agha Khan University Hospital in Nairobi.
Gunturu insisted to IslamOnline.net (IOL) that before experts are able to put their fingers on what exactly is going on, the prudent thing for the media and public would be to let the specialists deal with this matter, rather than blindly speculating.
"This is the best way to handle a matter of such magnitude rather than going ahead and quoting unverified figures of fatalities and infected persons," she opined.
Panic vs. Apathy
Even as experts try to find quick answers to the swine flu question, the disease is yet to be fully understood. For example, it is not yet known why the disease manifests with less severe symptoms in the United States as compared to Mexico, its neighbor on the southern border.
In addition, it has not yet been established where the first case of swine flu originated. Media speculations suggest that the flu originated in a pig farm in the southeastern Mexican state of Vera Cruz. However, these claims were refuted last Tuesday by Jose Angel Cordova, Mexico's health minister. (Daily Nation 2)
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Asked whether he would consider boarding a congested bus, George Ondetto, a primary school teacher, asked what exactly swine flu was.
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The minister instead explained that the first case that alerted authorities to a possible rogue flu strain was in the southern state of Oaxaca. This only points to the fact that there is still more about swine flu that needs to be discovered.
Due to mass panic in Mexico, daily activities have come to a near standstill. Businesses and schools have shut down and people cannot move around freely. (Daily Nation 2)
Explaining the need to help vulnerable poor countries in the face of this global health challenge, the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki Moon, alluded to the fact that information about the disease is yet to be fully understood.
"If we are indeed facing an epidemic," said the Secretary-General in a statement, "we need to demonstrate global solidarity." (Daily Nation 3)
With all media organizations covering the story on swine flu, people are being bombarded with information, the shear volume of which is alarming in itself, regardless of where it is coming from. Some are wondering whether reports by the media should be taken at face value before verification from the specialists.
A quick check on the streets of Nairobi, for instance, reveals utter apathy on this health issue that is gripping the world at the moment. Asked whether he would consider boarding a congested bus, George Ondetto, a primary school teacher, asked IOL what exactly swine flu was.
"Is it another form of bird flu?" he queried. When IOL told him that this was a different disease, he requested more information on the disease.
"I would also like to know what the fuss is all about, so that I can take the necessary precautions," said Ondetto.
Sources:
"Analysts View 4-Markets fret over swine flu outbreak." Reuters. 27 Apr. 2009. Accessed 30 Apr. 2009.
"WHO on Alert Over Swine Flu." Daily Nation 1. Page 21. 28 Apr. 2009.
"Swine Flu Set to Ravage Poor Countries." Daily Nation 3. 29 Apr. 2009.
"Swine Virus Hurts Bid to Recover From Crisis." Business Daily. Page 3. 28 Apr. 2009
"Time to Halt Flu's Match." Daily Nation 2. 29 Apr. 2009.
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