Influenza Pandemic

I'm trying to follow the timeline of the Type A influenze virus, H1N1, which was firstly discovered to be transmitted from swine (pig) to human. Now WHO has declared that it is an influenza pandemic. I read this statement released by WHO's Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan on 11 June 2009 and I'd like to share this part of her statement with you all out there:

On the basis of available evidence, and these expert assessments of the evidence, the scientific criteria for an influenza pandemic have been met.

I have therefore decided to raise the level of influenza pandemic alert from phase 5 to phase 6.

The world is now at the start of the 2009 influenza pandemic.

We are in the earliest days of the pandemic. The virus is spreading under a close and careful watch.

No previous pandemic has been detected so early or watched so closely, in real-time, right at the very beginning. The world can now reap the benefits of investments, over the last five years, in pandemic preparedness.

We have a head start. This places us in a strong position. But it also creates a demand for advice and reassurance in the midst of limited data and considerable scientific uncertainty.

Thanks to close monitoring, thorough investigations, and frank reporting from countries, we have some early snapshots depicting spread of the virus and the range of illness it can cause.

We know, too, that this early, patchy picture can change very quickly. The virus writes the rules and this one, like all influenza viruses, can change the rules, without rhyme or reason, at any time.

Globally, we have good reason to believe that this pandemic, at least in its early days, will be of moderate severity. As we know from experience, severity can vary, depending on many factors, from one country to another.

On present evidence, the overwhelming majority of patients experience mild symptoms and make a rapid and full recovery, often in the absence of any form of medical treatment.

Worldwide, the number of deaths is small. Each and every one of these deaths is tragic, and we have to brace ourselves to see more. However, we do not expect to see a sudden and dramatic jump in the number of severe or fatal infections.

We know that the novel H1N1 virus preferentially infects younger people. In nearly all areas with large and sustained outbreaks, the majority of cases have occurred in people under the age of 25 years.

In some of these countries, around 2% of cases have developed severe illness, often with very rapid progression to life-threatening pneumonia.

Most cases of severe and fatal infections have been in adults between the ages of 30 and 50 years.

This pattern is significantly different from that seen during epidemics of seasonal influenza, when most deaths occur in frail elderly people...

Click here to read the full article.

What I find most interesting was most cases of severe and fatal infections have been in adults between the ages of 30 and 50 years old (yups, that's the young adult group and me). Besides that, I find that probably many parts of the world, especially those countries who had experienced cases of SARS to be prepared to handle this pandemic. However, I also noticed that there might be countries, including my own (kinda embarrassed to state, but a fact is a fact), that might have taken for granted the severity of this pandemic.

I was very impressed with the safety measurement done by Kuching International Airport which requires all flight passangers to declare their health status and written down details of themselves on a form for health clearance, which actually will help to locate the people in case H1N1 is found on any passanger entering the border of Sarawak. However, I was NOT so impressed when I flew to KL LCCT and also KK LCCT that there was no security clearance or health checks performed on domestic flights passangers. You'll be surprised that many people who have returned from overseas to Malaysia might pass KL/KK LCCT because they need to return to their hometowns in respective states in Malaysia. Yet, domestic flights are not scanned. What the heck!

Now there are 17 confirmed cases in Malaysia... Mostly from people who are studying or had been abroad (overseas) and somehow got themselves "infected". Are the people irresponsible? Or do the global authorities need to do something more drastic to stop the spreading of A(H1N1) virus? A visit to the doctor this morning put us in this discussion that eventually all of us will get this virus because there is no way to stop it. How come? Is it because the capitalists are not willing to sacrifice their profits? Or is it because people who are overseas just can't wait to return to their homeland to see their loved ones? What is more selfish then? To return asap to see their loved ones but risk the possibility of bringing along the virus? Or to wait until the whole thing subsides before coming home?

One thing I realise is now is summer break for northern hemisphere and winter break for southeren hemisphere. Basically it is term break for most universities in the world. Students are travelling near and far, to return home after a long period away or to travel and experience the world. There is no way stopping that from happening. Then what is going to happen next to this Influenza Pandemic?

Let's pray:
Lord Jesus, we know You are the Healer and the Physician of all sicknesses and ailments. We lift unto You this global influenza pandemic so that You may be able to lead the authorities and the global citizens to do the right thing and make the right decisions by the Holy Spirit in order to cease the spreading of the virus. Lord God, we know we're living at the end of times, where many have turned to evils and chose against repentance. O Lord our Mighty God, we pray that You will not harden Your heart against Your people and You'll hear our prayers and heal those who have been infected by this virus and their families. Dead Lord, thank You and praise You for all the grace that You've given us all. And all these we pray through Your most precious and holy Name. Amen!