Swine Flu

Death is inevitable. While premature death is a misfortune, we should view it from a more positive perspective that we are not immortal and cannot continue to be who we are now and remain meaningfully attached to life forever. Perhaps it is more acceptable to die at an advanced age when people who live long enough not to be grounded down by life as they have attained many of their aspirations. Premature death can be terrible in the sense that it comes when we still have many interests and desires that propel us forward in life.

The recent global warning that swine flu is threatening to bloom into a pandemic is causing widespread fear. Anticipating death can be a dreadful to the extent that it upsets and unsettles people. Pandemics can cause high levels of mortality with the Spanish flu responsible for over 50 millions death. The Asian flu infected 45 millions people and killed 70,000 and the Hong Kong flu afflicted 50 millions and caused 33,000 deaths.

WHO has declared a Phase 5 outbreak, the 2nd highest on its threat scale indicating that a pandemic could be imminent. Health Minister Khaw said it is only a matter of time before someone with swine flu entered Singapore. Hey, who is playing God here? Have we reached a pandemic level yet? The figures of suspected cases and death are far from a pandemic. What puzzle me is that medical researchers should be well aware of the mutation of flu virus and contingency plans for a possible global pandemic should have been in order long before the swine flu begins its battle. Although it is prudent to be cautious, but unnecessary step up measures only create more panic and achieve nothing but a waste of manpower, time and funds. So, what has been achieved so far… jitters over swine flu worldwide.

Medical researchers have also acknowledged that the swine virus can be easily beaten if treated properly and quickly. Unfortunately, Mexico lacks the capacity to identify the virus and the health care system is not efficient enough to control it. Don’t panic. Everyone has to die one day and we cannot choose when and how we want to die… peacefully in our sleep, by accident, suicide, illness or killed by Sars, mad cow disease, bird flu or swine flu. Que sera sera.