Deadly Swine Flu in Mexico: Potential Global Epidemic

I woke up this morning greeted by an email from a friend across the globe, telling me that he's worried about my safety because of the dangerous virus that has broken out in Mexico.

"A dangerous virus?" I wondered. "Maybe he's talking about the drug wars in northern Mexico...."

So I went online and did a search for 'dangerous virus in Mexico' and sure enough, there actually is such a thing as a dangerous new virus in Mexico: the swine flu.

I'm like, "Aha, now I understand why everyone in the bus station on Friday was wearing surgical masks."

I'm here in Mexico to write my book in peace and quiet and this tells you how much of a hermit I am--or how little I follow daily news reports. This lack of following the daily news is a practice I implemented from Tim Ferriss' Information Diet. Read his book, The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich, for more info. It's perfect for anyone who doesn't like the slave-like existence of working 9 to 5. :)

Basically, if you can't remember what was in the morning paper, it was unnecessary information. What this comes down to for me is reading the headlines on newsstands as I go about my daily errands (although since I don't understand Spanish, I haven't been doing this here in Mexico) and relying on my friends to inform me about important events. This relying on my friends really does work, as demonstrated in this morning's email. Here I am in the heart of Mexico having no clue whatsoever about the swine flu and my friend all the way from the Persian Gulf emails me to inform me about the outbreak.

According to an article by the Associated Press in Mexico City, printed yesterday, April 25, by the Casper Star Tribune and titled "Mexico tries to corral dangerous virus; four U.S. states report flu", it turns out that the flu is a combination of swine, bird and human influenza that people may have no natural immunity to and world health officials warn that the outbreak could become a global epidemic.

Scientists have warned for years about the potential for a pandemic from viruses that mix genetic material from humans and animals. Unlike with regular flu, humans don't have natural immunity to a virus that includes animal genes. This is all the more reason for not eating animal products and byproducts. This is one of the things, by the way, that Sharon talks about in her book, Yoga and Vegetarianism.

We wouldn't have this deadly swine flu problem if we didn't eat meat and meat byproducts. We had/have the same problem with bird flu and mad cow disease. Now we have the swine flu. But we're still too addicted to animal products and byproducts that we'll put our own lives, and the lives of our children, at risk just to continue feeding our addiction. If for no other reason than for your own health and safety, don't eat animal products and byproducts--or steadily lessen your consumption with the aim to quit completely.

I say all of this fully aware of my own addictions and behaviors. I'm not preaching anything I, myself, haven't experienced or struggled with or endeavor to practice.


Here are excerpts from the article (see http://www.casperstartribune.net/articles/2009/04/25/news/breaking/doc49f3bba928ede106953894.txt):

"Mexico's president assumed new powers Saturday [April 25] to isolate people infected with a deadly swine flu strain as authorities struggled to contain an outbreak that world health officials warned could become a global epidemic.

"New cases of swine flu were confirmed in Kansas and California and suspected in New York City, but health officials said they didn't know whether it was the strain that has killed up to 68 people in Mexico and likely sickened more than 1,000.

"Mexican soldiers and health workers patrolled airports and bus stations as they tried to corral people who may be infected with the swine flu, as it became clearer that the government may have been slow to respond to the outbreak in March and early April.

"Now, even detaining the ill may not keep the strain -- a combination of swine, bird and human influenza that people may have no natural immunity to -- from spreading, epidemiologists say.

"Two dozen new suspected cases were reported in Mexico City alone, where authorities suspended schools and all public events until further notice. More than 500 concerts, sporting events and other gatherings were canceled in the metropolis of 20 million.

"The Mexican government issued a decree authorizing President Felipe Calderon to invoke special powers letting the Health Department isolate patients and inspect homes, incoming travelers and baggage.

"At Mexico City's international airport, health workers passed out written questionnaires seeking to identify passengers with flu symptoms. Surgical masks and brochures were handed out at bus and subway stations. The U.S. embassy in Mexico posted a message advising U.S. citizens to avoid large crowds, shaking hands, greeting people with a kiss or using the subway.

"But with confirmed swine flu cases in at least six states -- and possibly as many as 14 -- the efforts seemed unlikely to stop the spread of the disease.

"Particularly difficult in a metropolis as crowded as Mexico City was the embassy's advice to maintain "a distance of at least 6 feet from other persons may decrease the risk of exposure."

"WHO Director-General Margaret Chan said the outbreak of the never-before-seen virus has "pandemic potential." But she said it is still too early to tell if it would become a pandemic.

"The situation is evolving quickly," Chan said in Geneva. "A new disease is by definition poorly understood."

"Scientists have warned for years about the potential for a pandemic from viruses that mix genetic material from humans and animals.

"This swine flu and regular flu can have similar symptoms -- mostly fever, cough and sore throat, though some of the U.S. victims who recovered also experienced vomiting and diarrhea. But unlike with regular flu, humans don't have natural immunity to a virus that includes animal genes -- and new vaccines can take months to bring into use.

"The same virus also sickened at least 11 people in the United States, though there have been no deaths north of the border."