The Influenza A H1N1 virus, previously and more commonly known as the swine flu, is a viral mutation between the H5N1 avian flu, the common human flu and the flu in swines. Originated in Mexico, this virus has crossed seas and oceans and is a pandemic worldwide. As the saying goes, 'Once bitten, twice shy', several countries have took early measures to prevent or to contain this virus because they had feared that the dreadful atmosphere during the SARS period, where close to 10000 people were infected with this deadly disease would rekindle. However, some measures were adequate and effective while others are not. Nevertheless, compared to SARS, these measures are far better.

Before we begin, 'adequate' used in the context of such measures refers to how much impact does the measure do in preventing or containing the virus, while 'effective' refers to how positive the implications of such measures are.

Starting from the origin in Mexico, the government has minimized public gatherings by measures such as closing all schools and closing night life operators for 10 days. The government has also launched campaigns to educate the people to wash their hands and wear surgical masks. However, these measures are not adequate enough. Firstly, there are insufficient surgical masks so not everyone has one. Even if one person does not have a surgical mask, the society is in danger of falling into an epidemic. If that person sneezes, all the viral particles would be suspended in the air, which would ultimately float into various homes. At home, many people take off their masks, but this is the opportunity when these viral particles enter the body and have a whale of a time infecting cells and killing phagocytes. To minimize the spread of the virus, everyone needs to have a mask, but the government is not doing so.

Next, let us consider Hong Kong, who was hit badly by the SARS pandemic. During the SARS pandemic, the Hong Kong government had done badly in preventing the spread of SARS. Two of the most grave mistakes were the failure to provide sufficient masks for its citizens and especially doctors in hospitals, and also the Amoy Garden incident. For the first mistake, the Hong Kong government had a short of mask supply in hospitals. This resulted in a number of hospital caregivers to enter SARS wards without masks. The implications of this is pretty obvious, that these caregivers contracted SARS and spreaded the disease to other patients and colleagues in the hospital. Many doctors, nurses and patients died in hospitals during the course of SARS, even patients who visited the hospital merely to seek medical advice for their normal cold. The Hong Kong government had to close down the entire hospital as a result and many normal patients could not seek medical advice. For the second mistake, Amoy Gardens, a middle class housing estate, was the most badly hit area. More than 300 people were infected with SARS there and people just contracted SARS when their neighbours had it. This incident occured because the water pipes had serious problems which provided a habitable environment for the virus to replicate and reproduce, when it could have been prevented by maintaining the water pipes such that they do not leak. Imagine all the residents in one housing estate having to move to another place for isolation!

Nonetheless, the Kong government has learnt from its mistakes and have done extremely adequate measures to prevent and contain the spread of the H1N1 disease. When H1N1 first made its visit to Hong Kong in Metro Park Hotel, all the residents in that hotel were quarantined on the spot and the infected tourist was taken to be isolated. These people were given Tamiflu tablets and water. This measure is very effective, because it was implemented early enough. Had it been implemented later, the flu would already be circulating around the whole hotel and the flu would impatiently barge its way out of the hotel to infect even more people in Hong Kong. Besides, quarantining these people when the infected is only brought to the hospital after some time would not be feasible either. Since this flu would be spread around the whole hotel, quarantining tourists at that time would mean infecting all of them with the flu. Therefore, this measure is adequate because it was done at the right time. Nevertheless, this measure is not effective. Although the most direct implication was that the flu was properly contained, it partly damaged Hong Kong's international image and also foreign relationships with other countries. Some of the victims condemned this measure because they painfully complained that they had lost several major business dealings by lagging in the hotel for 7 days, while the Mexican government and its citizens critisized Hong Kong for its prejudice against Mexicans just because they origninated H1N1. But hereby I wish to remind those who lost major business that they were quarantined for the good cause. What if they had already contracted swine flu? If they were allowed to roam freely around the world, it would cause the flu to leave its fluprints on every country and society, further harming the already existent economic depression brought about by inital stages of swine flu. If this flu worsens, the economic depression would augment exponentially. Couple this with the financial crisis experienced since last year, the total economic implications would be astronomical and for these businessmen, their companies might be swept away and close down. Wouldn't it be an even disastrous consequence than losing a major business? To those who critisize the government of discrimination them, I wish to remind them that all countries should work together to fight against swine flu. If governments continue to dwell on political issues, they would lose sight of the common goal which is to eradicate the flu. Swine flu would then seize the opportunity to do a complete wipe-out of all mankind. Would that not be a worse implication than suppressing the discrimination put up against them to contain the flu?

In conclusion, the current measure taken to contain the spread of swine flu is adequate, but the effectiveness may not be perfect, because countries still childishly focus on political issues when an imminent threat is looming nearer to the whole world. Instead of focusing on poltiical issues, let us work hand in hand, united always, to eliminate swine flu and to benefit all mankind.