Travel in the time of Swine Flu

Back in Europe after my CARIBBEAN sojourn i sit in a cold quite place in Denmark thinking of my flight from Cancun. Mexico was recently shut down as a step to contain the recent outbreak of Flu, i got one of the last planes out.To get out of the country you had to take a health test, a temperature check being the primary indicator if you were a possible victim of the flu.Flu kills people every year in all countries, what made this 'Outbreak' so hyped. The WHO for one thing ramped up the phases of pandemic, which spread a lot more fear then the swine.And speaking of sick animals something should be done about the condition of factory farming. Is is any wonder that pigs should be the next in line to develop viruses after chickens (bird flu) and those cows that went mad. What's next ?

Don't get caught in transit in a pandemic is my advise. Failing a simple temperature test could have you hauled away and admitted to some kind of detention centre. Although i must compliment the Mexican para medics at Cancun airport they were very organised and civil. In less friendly circumstances in other countries the experience could have been very fascist. 

Yes you have to attempt to contain something like that but with air travel been what is is with up to 2 million people traveling on planes around the world at any one time, the cat is probably out of the bag before you can put a mask over your head.And people wearing masks spread more fear around... do they really work?

An airborne disease of pandemic world proportions will happen again, flu viruses have killed millions in our history on earth, what to do to prevent another outbreak? I am not sure that it is preventable, contingency plans must be ready for sure, but begin at the source - improve the conditions of animals in factory farms.If that is the source of these mutant strains of viruses.Or is it a lab somewhere that is developing chemical WMD's. Makes you think. 

One thing for sure its about the quickest way to close up a country and confine its citizens to there houses, to turn a free country into a prison.