Halt virus at its epicenter

• Source: The Global Times
• [18:11 May 21 2009]
• Comments

Stopping the fatal H1N1 virus, known as swine flu, from spreading more widely requires more urgent measures to halt the virus at its epicenter. The latest data from the World Health Organization (WHO) puts the number of laboratory-confirmed human cases of swine flu in the US at 3,352, the most of any country.

North America’s three countries – Canada, the US and Mexico – have the largest number of confirmed cases of swine flu in the world, raising concerns about the effectiveness of their containment efforts.

The US in particular has a lot to do, with the virus spreading rapidly. The number of people being infected has soared quickly and three people have died. Compared with other countries in high gear to combat swine flu, the US public seems indifferent to the danger. The American government and media have taken a low-key approach to dealing with the flu.

A recent New York Times editorial dismissed preventive measures taken by developing countries, China included, such as banning pork imports from the US and issuing travel bans, as misguided attempts to quell popular fear.

We have enough reason to worry about the virus entering China from abroad. Both confirmed human cases of swine flu in the Chinese mainland were from people who had contracted the illness in North America. And even as some US commentators criticized travel bans imposed by other countries, US Vice President Joe Biden told his family to travel less.

The US government has a fine line to walk between sounding the alarm and not causing the public to panic. But the situation is now clear: the US must respond to the epidemic with more active, effective measures.

Considering its global business interactions, the US in particular is at risk of spreading the virus to other countries, including many that have only poor healthcare systems.

At the moment, life in the US is continuing much as before, with Americans traveling as widely as usual. The advanced health care infrastructure in the US has ensured that life has not been interrupted by the outbreak, at least for the moment.

But the impact of swine flu can be disastrous for countries without proper preventive systems. Few countries can afford the expensive healthcare system the US enjoys.

China has taken exhaustive measures to track down all of the people who traveled with the two swine flu victims. A few are still missing, posing a risk to the rest of the population.

Pandemics have no boundary. The US should not ignore warnings the WHO has issued for the entire world.

Confronted with the dangers of the swine flu epidemic, each country must take responsible individual steps to ensure that it does not endanger the rest of the world. More protective actions in the US would be for America's own good and would benefit the rest of the world as well.