Different Swine Flu Dynamics in U.S./China
As I get within earshot of the end of the school year, I’m in full planning mode for my trip home from China to the U.S.: summer clothes, check; suntan lotion, check; wife and son, check; mindless time wasting activities for when I’m put in quarantine, check. Yes, I’m eagerly anticipating being quarantined in a Chinese hotel, with scant English TV and little communication from the outside world upon my return to China from the U.S. Heck, if the authorities are bold enough to put the mayor of a major U.S. city in isolation for a while–not for showing symptoms, but for being seats away from someone who might have been–why not isolate little ol’ me, too?
One phenomenon I’ve noticed is that no one seems to care much about the flu in the U.S., while here in China they are acting like it’s the apocalypse. I check news headlines every day, and it is rare that I read anything in U.S. publications about swine flu reports any more–really nothing for the last month and a half. I’m guessing China had a very bad experience the first time around with SARS, and they don’t want a repeat performance. Understandable. Additionally, hygiene here is not what it should be, particularly in the countryside, and the disease could catch fire rapidly. So why the relative indifference in America? Is it because the medical care is better? Is it just like any other flu so people are unconcerned? Is the government telling the press to downplay it? What is it? Please comment with your ideas.
In the meantime, my trip planning will include buying lots of crossword puzzles and pc games so that I have plenty to do in isolation after I return from my trip home.
Photo by El_Enigma
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