If you’ve been watching the news the past few days, you know that there has been a recent outbreak of a dangerous flu virus in Mexico that is rapidly spreading around the world.
I’m not going to detail the actual outbreak, the formal news sites can do a much better job of that than I. I won’t comment on the responses being attempted in the affected countries, nor will I discuss the political, economic, or social issues surrounding this. Instead, I want to point you into yourself to see how you feel about this.
First, prior to a week ago had you ever heard of swine flu? Sure, avian flu has been in the news regularly for half a decade, and we’ve heard again and again that we need to be ready in case it suddenly broke over to humans. But swine flu?
What does this tell you? I suggest your first thought should be that it’s not the danger you expect that is likely to warrant your concern. In fact, the things you worry about rarely, if ever, become a real issue in your life.
Second, this appears to have the most serious impact on young adults. Children and the elderly, usually the ones most likely to have difficulties with the flu, are more likely to survive this than healthy young adults.
Is there a lesson you can take away from this? I’m not really sure; however, I think it’s fair to say ‘young’ isn’t synonymous with ‘invincible’. And ‘old’ isn’t the same as ‘frail’.
Third, the spread of the disease is following a typical, chaotic pattern so far. And it will probably continue to do so. If this becomes a real epidemic or pandemic, it will spread faster than we can contain it. Why?
Well, because by the time you know someone has it, they have already been spreading it for a short while. That interim time is long enough to allow them to cover large distances. Short of shutting down all transportation for a few days or weeks (globally), stopping this from spreading is probably not possible. And those decisions need to be made now, before the Dominoes really have the chance to start falling in earnest.
Fourth, have you noticed that most people who come down with this are unharmed? Have you become caught-up in the numbers of deaths rather than focusing on the much larger number of successful outcomes? The actual fatality rate is, while higher than most flu strains, still quite low overall.
I have one more thought: even with all the concern about this, even if this grows to a full pandemic, and even if people around you start showing significant symptoms, don’t panic. Keep a level head.
Let’s face it: all the worrying in the world isn’t going to change anything, other than to add stress to your system. And that will make you more susceptible to anything that is going around. Further, many people will have symptoms that are similar but unrelated. Add to that the hypochondriacs and germ-paranoid, and there’s already enough worry going around.
Either this will affect you or it won’t, but that’s out of your control. The best thing you can do right now is continue with your normal routine. Just keep doing the things you normally do.
Resources
In the news
- Seems like this would be a bad sign regardless: Abnormal Heartbeat After Bypass a Bad Sign
- Public health reminder: the sun can be good for you too: Vitamin D hope in prostate cancer
- Try eliminating chemicals in your laundry, bathroom, and cleaning cabinet first: ‘Bleach bath’ benefit for eczema
Quote for the week
We experience moments absolutely free from worry. These brief respites are called panic. – Cullen Hightower
Healthy thoughts,
Jeff
