Flu Fears

We are gearing up for our big trip home this summer, which is once again being overshadowed by fears of the big epidemic. Our wedding was also impacted by fears of the big global epidemic. Big Fish and his mother had to take 10 days off of work unpaid after returning form Canada, where all the evil diseases come from. Hopefully they don't force Big Fish to do that this time too, because I don't think his branch would survive 20 days without him. They can barely survive 2 hours without him, judging from the 9 phone calls he got while he was cutting Cupcake's cord and having his fist cuddles with her.

The Japanese media is going nuts about Swine Flu. When 3 people coming back from Canada brought swine flu with them, they were ecstatic. Foreign countries are evil! Canada is diseased! Foreigners not wearing masks spread disease! Now, however, 244 more people without foreign ties have tested positive for swine flu and they are freaking out. There are no other news stories at all, whatsoever.

The funny thing is that the coverage is so bad. They go on and on and on about how everyone should wear a mask and that will save them. Of course, the people saying this on tv aren't wearing masks.

No mention is ever made of the action that would actually prevent the spread of disease: washing your hands. Nothing about covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze either. And certainly nothing about buying alcohol gels to clean your hands when you can't get to a tap with warm water and soap (which in Japan is basically everywhere). This really bothers me. My son is 2 and even knows how to wash his hands with soap. Why can't adults here do it?

I am not overly concerned about catching swine flu. I'm just making sure that we keep as healthy as normal. We do wash our hands with soap or alcohol gel if out and about. We cover our mouths when coughing or sneezing. Cupcake is being nursed and the rest of us are drinking probiotics and I hope this keeps us decently healthy. Besides, my grandma survived the Spanish flu as a toddler so I hope her good healthy genes have been passed on to us.