Swine Flu Paranoia in Korea: Alert Status
It was just a matter of time in South Korea when the Swine Flu paranoia reached a new high prompting authorities to raise the alert status to a "red level" the highest level for dealing with H1N1.
Image via Wikipedia
Image via Wikipedia
It was just a matter of time in South Korea when the Swine Flu paranoia reached a new high prompting authorities to raise the alert status to a “red level” the highest level fpr dealing with H1N1.
There’s been at least one or two articles a day in the Korea Times-the newspaper that I read daily-about Swine Flu whether it is a person succumbing to the flu or worries that the flu will spread when the weather turns colder (it got really cold here yesterday, down to the lower 20’s, but the temperature was back up in the low 60’s today).
There have been 42 deaths attributed to H1N1, but of these, only one person, a 42-year-old-man died without suffering any other serious ailments.
Some reports say that over 8,800 people a day or being diagnosed with the flu-up from 4,400 the previous week; however, the paranoia has caused some misdiagnoses. One of the office staff at my school was misdiagnosed with H1N1 and sent home for a week.
People are scared to go anywhere. According to an article in the Korea Times yesterday, “airlines, rail, hotels and amusement parks are just some of the businesses hammered by the growing number of people canceling their visits” and even the fear of contracting the flu is “resulting in empty tables at neighborhood restaurants and pubs.”
This morning when I went to school, only one of the office staff was there (there are usually five) as well as the student who is in charge of the copy center. Nonetheless, I had six out of seven students in my adult conversation class.
Much of the paranoia and excessive fear can be attributed to the media that has been reporting, not to mention painting a dismal picture of the spread of H1N1 in Korea. It has got a lot of people nervous and even someone with the symptoms of a common cold has them running to the doctor. Almost everyone you see on the streets is wearing a mask over their mouths and noses; Walt Disney and Hello Kitty masks are a big hit with the youngsters and even some of my university students.
I wonder what it is like in other countries and what people are doing to cope with it as well as what they might think of the H1N1 paranoia here in Korea. Supposedly, it has become much more serious in Asia than in other countries.
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raman13 | Nov 4, 2009 | Reply
excellent
cardy | Nov 4, 2009 | Reply
A good write for you thanks for the share!
Themax | Nov 4, 2009 | Reply
Very good and Important to know!!
Nice Sharing m8
ken bultman | Nov 4, 2009 | Reply
I don’t know why you think that.
lillyrose | Nov 4, 2009 | Reply
It’s a very worrying time for people… its the big human cull, we have had it over here as well. I think it is so wide spread now because it is so easy to travel around the world. I must admit I have only read snippets about it because you can get paranoid and a bacterial infection would probably kill me. Is it air born? I know you get it from sneeze droplets.
Christine Ramsay | Nov 4, 2009 | Reply
We have had many cases in the UK and many deaths but those mostly of people with other ailments including pregnancy.
We are all much more aware now of taking precautions. An interesting read.
Christine
ashan1614 | Nov 4, 2009 | Reply
I think the whole world is on high alert. Folks here are panicking as the supply of vaccine cannot keep up with the demand. Me? I just wash my hands often and keep a bottle of hand sanitizer nearby. I refuse to let this thing take over my life.
Frances Lawrence | Nov 4, 2009 | Reply
It is very frightening especially if you have people in your family with low immunity
Sourav | Nov 4, 2009 | Reply
This is very worrying… and it’s not getting any better.
agriculi | Nov 4, 2009 | Reply
I think there is no point in worrying about it. Often worrying about something like this can make matters worse.
Lady Sunshine | Nov 4, 2009 | Reply
Panic and paranoia are never good, but it doesn’t help that there have been deaths of otherwise healthy people, so I can understand the fear. I mean how do you tell them not to worry if they lost someone to this? Best thing is prevention, but the flu is so damn contagious. Wash your hands, everybody!
Linda Lori | Nov 4, 2009 | Reply
Very informative. Great article!
Shirley Shuler | Nov 4, 2009 | Reply
Excellent post, Papa. I find this also very worrying, but we just have to do the best we can and hope for the best.
Teves | Nov 4, 2009 | Reply
Great work…
papaleng | Nov 5, 2009 | Reply
nice article and nice views about swine flu