CONTAINING THE SWINE FLU

THE outbreak of a new swine virus in Mexico, the US and Canada has prompted fears of a global pandemic and governments around the world are hurrying to contain its spread.
But one may as well ask: What is swine flu? What is its mode of transmission?
According to medical history, swine flu is a respiratory disease believed to spread through coughing and sneezing. Its symptoms mimic those of normal flu but the frightening thing about the newly detected version is that it is said to contain genetic material from versions of flu which usually affects birds and pigs.
To date, the world has witnessed three major flu pandemics — the Spanish flu pandemic in 1968 that killed more than 50 million people and remains the most devastating; the Asian flu that occurred in 1957 and killed two million people and the Hong Kong flu in 1968 that claimed some one million lives.
In Mexico, where more than 100 people are already feared dead, churches stood empty and football matches were played to vacant stadia as soldiers and health workers patrolled the subway in an effort to prevent the spread of a deadly strain of the swine flu.
Furthermore, schools, bars and public buildings remain closed and many people have decided to stay indoors. Some people are beginning to worry about the effects swine flu is having on their livelihoods and the Mexican economy in general.
And in the US, where 20 cases of swine flu has been confirmed at the time of going to press, doctors have advised the people to wear masks as a precautionary measure.
The Canadian cases were recorded at opposite ends of the country: Two in British Columbia in the west and four in the Atlantic province of Nova Scotia. Other people are being tested for the virus in countries around the world.
A number of countries in Asia, Latin America and Europe have also begun screening airport passengers for symptoms.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has stated in very clear terms that the current outbreak has “pandemic potential” and countries have been advised to step up surveillance and preparation in case the infection spreads rapidly.
There may be no cause for alarm in Ghana, except that the outbreak of the swine flu brings back memories of the mad cow disease and bird flu.
The DAILY GRAPHIC is, therefore, happy that the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has declared its readiness to battle the virus.
In an interview with our paper yesterday, Dr Elias Sory, the Director-General of the GHS, said categorically that a team had already been put in place to keep surveillance. He also urged the people to practise personal hygiene now more than ever.
But beyond that, the DAILY GRAPHIC calls for the immediate banning of raw pork and pig products from Mexico and other parts of the US for as long as the pandemic persists. It is on record that Russia, China and Thailand have already taken a similar stance and other countries are expected to follow suit in the days to come.
No country can afford to toy with the health of its people and an emergency case such as this requires emergency measures to deal decisively with the situation.