Bahrain
Kuwait
Oman
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
UAE
Print
Email
Discuss this article (10 Comments)Just another pandemic
by This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it on Monday, 27 April 2009
Okay, I know this swine flu is a big deal. You know, 120 million people could die and all that. And I know we should all take it seriously, and I know everyone is.
But in times like this, everyone loses all sense of perspective. Right now, as things stand, just over 100 deaths have been reported, all in Mexico. A handful of cases have cropped up everywhere else from Canada to New Zealand, and the world’s airports are on high alert. Governments have been moved into urgent action.
But this is not the only “pandemic” that is threatening civilization. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) – which has done a masterful job so far on swine flu – around two million people a year are killed because of drinking too much alcohol.
Another 140 million people world-wide each year suffer from alcohol dependency. Any strain of alcohol is of course freely available in most shops, bars and hotels around the world. No sign of any global call for action though. I guess it’s not that big a problem?
What about road accidents? Again, recent studies by the WHO show that over 1.3 million people are year are killed at the wheel of their cars. Another 23 million are injured in road accidents.
Here in the UAE, in 2008 a staggering 106 pedestrians were killed on the roads (according to the RTA). That’s more than the total number of swine flu deaths so far.
What is being done about this pandemic? Anyone with enough cash can buy the fastest car they can find. Yes, a few more awareness campaigns are in place, but where is the urgent call to action?
We are happy to stop people passing through airports and give them a thorough health screening, but once through, you can hire the Ferrari of your choice. No questions about your safety record, and no quizzing about your driving abilities. Give us your cash, and off you go.
I could go and on – what about the 1.1 million deaths a year caused by diabetes? And an even greater number of deaths from high cholesterol? Or the 15 million deaths a year caused by starvation? Or the 160 million children below the age of five suffering from malnutrition? What’s being done?
It’s worth adding that according to the WHO, up to 500,000 people a year are killed from the regular strains of influenza, with another FIVE MILLION affected. What’s being done?
Of course, right now nobody wants to listen. Everyone is talking about swine flu, and millions around the world are close to mass panic.
The world’s media have joined in – I recommend the BBC website which has an eyewitness account from Mexico, where swine flu suspect Tansy Huws vividly describes how she “couldn’t get out of bed.” Later in the article, she confesses that “They prescribed me Tamiflu and I am feeling much better now.”
Phew. With the level of international co-ordination and medical expertise, it is likely that the outbreak will be contained – and if not, the majority of cases can be successfully treated.
Hopefully, it will also serve as a wake up call to governments around the world that if they put their mind to it, any problem can be solved. And there are plenty more problems than swine flu to begin with.
READERS' COMMENTS
Disclaimer: The views expressed here by our readers are not necessarily shared by ArabianBusiness.com or its employees.
AB: People dying unnecessarily...?
Posted by Aslam Bughari, Dammam, KSA on Monday 27 July 2009 at 17:53 UAE time
Your sketch to the deaths toll is fine and well; nevertheless, what you are saying is irrelevant to Swine Flu. Dispersal of H1N1 is merely away from our individual hands as rest of other deaths are.
Compare always apple to apple only, not apple with orange.
However, your interest to draw the attention on other death is appreciable should be discussed as well
Posted by Aslam Bughari, Dammam, KSA on Monday 27 July 2009 at 17:53 UAE time
Your sketch to the deaths toll is fine and well; nevertheless, what you are saying is irrelevant to Swine Flu. Dispersal of H1N1 is merely away from our individual hands as rest of other deaths are.
Compare always apple to apple only, not apple with orange.
However, your interest to draw the attention on other death is appreciable should be discussed as well
Apples and oranges
Posted by Sutter Kane, Dubai on Tuesday 12 May 2009 at 12:57 UAE time
It's interesting how you compare death from a pandemic with death from other unnatural causes. If you smoke too much you get cancer, if you drink too much you get cirrhosis, if you drive too fast you crash your car; but since you know the risks it's your choice. You got no one to blame
And what do you mean by "what's being done" ? Do you think scientists, charities, volunteers are sitting on their hands doing nothing all day long, unless a pandemic threat pops up ?
A pandemic on the other hand, with a mutating virus like H1N1 or H5N1 can easily get out of hand since it's a total alien to the immune system. And it's likely an evil scheme to sell loads of Tamiflu to the governments, but that doesn't change the fact that it's lethal. 1918 Spanish flu nearly killed %1 of the world population. In the near future we'll have more and more pandemics because the possibilility of interaction between species and human races are increasing, and viruses are getting resistent to antibiotics. So we need people to take it seriously. We need people to have a common understanding of hygiene, cover their mouths when they cough, go to a hospital and get checked if they don't feel well.
Posted by Sutter Kane, Dubai on Tuesday 12 May 2009 at 12:57 UAE time
It's interesting how you compare death from a pandemic with death from other unnatural causes. If you smoke too much you get cancer, if you drink too much you get cirrhosis, if you drive too fast you crash your car; but since you know the risks it's your choice. You got no one to blame
And what do you mean by "what's being done" ? Do you think scientists, charities, volunteers are sitting on their hands doing nothing all day long, unless a pandemic threat pops up ?
A pandemic on the other hand, with a mutating virus like H1N1 or H5N1 can easily get out of hand since it's a total alien to the immune system. And it's likely an evil scheme to sell loads of Tamiflu to the governments, but that doesn't change the fact that it's lethal. 1918 Spanish flu nearly killed %1 of the world population. In the near future we'll have more and more pandemics because the possibilility of interaction between species and human races are increasing, and viruses are getting resistent to antibiotics. So we need people to take it seriously. We need people to have a common understanding of hygiene, cover their mouths when they cough, go to a hospital and get checked if they don't feel well.
AJ replies to Anils reply
Posted by AJ on Tuesday 28 April 2009 at 16:32 UAE time
If that is the case dude, then you need to discuss those other issues, which by all means as important as swine flu to note, each on an independant platform. No form of fatal incident is anymore fatal than another; and even guys like the WHO try and do their bit in everyway they can for everything they can.
You say they do not attract enough media and government attention - well, you ARE the media! Here's your big chance. If you really do care a damn about all the millions of people dying of these problems, maybe its time you stopped riffing about real estate 'mugger' agents & developers in Dubai, and start pushing your valuable views regarding those problems to the relevant organisations.
Posted by AJ on Tuesday 28 April 2009 at 16:32 UAE time
If that is the case dude, then you need to discuss those other issues, which by all means as important as swine flu to note, each on an independant platform. No form of fatal incident is anymore fatal than another; and even guys like the WHO try and do their bit in everyway they can for everything they can.
You say they do not attract enough media and government attention - well, you ARE the media! Here's your big chance. If you really do care a damn about all the millions of people dying of these problems, maybe its time you stopped riffing about real estate 'mugger' agents & developers in Dubai, and start pushing your valuable views regarding those problems to the relevant organisations.
shallow fuss?
Posted by arnel, dubai, u.a.e. on Tuesday 28 April 2009 at 13:26 UAE time
i really find this article too annoying. I thought that you had some briliant complaint, but geez you're comparing a flu outbreak to road accidents? a hunger? unhealthy diet? and other factors and diseases that cause death? come on, the reason why you fear for pandemic disease is because you can't contain it largely by a self-descipline, eh? And you haven't even gotten your facts straight enough because the world has been aware and has been taking actions on deaths caused by reckless driving, poor diet, and poverty. How come you don't know?
Posted by arnel, dubai, u.a.e. on Tuesday 28 April 2009 at 13:26 UAE time
i really find this article too annoying. I thought that you had some briliant complaint, but geez you're comparing a flu outbreak to road accidents? a hunger? unhealthy diet? and other factors and diseases that cause death? come on, the reason why you fear for pandemic disease is because you can't contain it largely by a self-descipline, eh? And you haven't even gotten your facts straight enough because the world has been aware and has been taking actions on deaths caused by reckless driving, poor diet, and poverty. How come you don't know?
Mobile
