The Peace Corps on Swine Flu

I know, it’s not Swine Flu, it’s H1N1.  However, nobody understands that and this is my blog, so it’s Swine Flu.

I got a good chuckle out of a post by Peace Corps volunteer Charlotte who reported that the discovery of 3 (three!) cases of Swine Flu in Guate prompted the following alert from the Peace Corps Security officer:

“ALERT. Confirmed case in Guate City. Avoid all unnecessary travel 2 Guate. Begin stockpiling supplies.”

It’s been a long time since I’ve worked for the government so I forgot how these things work.  There isn’t much room for discretion when you work for Uncle Sam, and prudence isn’t rewarded.  You just follow the rules, and since the discovery of more cases in Guatemala represents a 200% increase over the known cases yesterday (that would be one), it’s time to stockpile supplies.

Let me say again, I don’t know whether this will become an epidemic or not, but I suspect not simply because life usually rewards the contrarian and because the media is consumed with this thing.  While the death rate is still very low, there is some evidence that past epidemics started this way as well, and it could be months, even years before we really know what we’re dealing with.  Can you modify your lifestyle in such a way as to eliminate all risk for the foreseeable future?

Prudence is warranted, but maintaining perspective is important as well.    Stay away from sick people.  Wash your hands.  Take your vitamins.  If you get sick, don’t go to work, school or church and infect everyone else.  Go to the doctor.  If you get treated and don’t get better, go to another doctor.

I know, I know, as Charlotte details in great length in her post, these things are all unreasonable for most Guatemalans, but then again, most Guatemalans aren’t reading my blog. (Just the brilliant with an excellent sense of humor).

As for stockpiling supplies, I can’t argue with that; while you may not be able to stockpile a year’s worth of food for your family like the Mormons recommend, you’re crazy not to have 3 days’ worth of necessities on hand, and a week or two if possible.  Although the infrastructure here isn’t as fragile as that of the US, if you knew there was an epidemic in your town would you really want to go hang at the market and buy food from a bunch of sick people?

I better wrap this post up, I’ve got this nagging cough that won’t go away…

Update:  100% of all Swine Flu cases in Guate involve women.  Any comments on that?