H1N1 Fears

All of humanity is under threat and markets around the world will seize up. God forbids but if the spread escalates into the global pandemic phase characterized by community level outbreaks, there will be a quick succession of market disturbances with the World Bank estimating that the pandemic can cost $3 trillion and resulting in 5% drop of GDP. This time, the world at large responded swiftly to this outbreak but the emotional fear still cannot be allayed with any assurances of stockpiles of drugs and vaccines. Though there were prognostications of the worst of developments with this outbreak, I think the scenario is still highly fantastical though the effect of any the outbreak is painfully relatable with Sars. We have to get over the single most terrifying human fear.

Precautionary measures have already been installed and the Singapore government has put up all the necessary frameworks to ensure that any possible propagation of the H1N1 can be checked with a disciplined tracking system. This is an opportunity for national and global solidarity as concerted responses are now seen across countries from China to the US. This is a public health emergency of international concern and the world will have to watch how the fight between H1N1 and mankind will pan out after all the possible precautionary measures are adopted with quarantines and contact tracings.

At the end, it is just hold on to our sanity as the outbreak is too large for any nation to bear and the H1N1 too small for us to be too scared. As one doctor told me, “Wash your hands as frequently as you can.”