Swine flu, or 'Grippe H1N1' as its known here in France, is on everyones minds. A couple of weeks ago, the government was forced to outline its policy if cases were detected in schools. The policy appears to be that, if two cases are detected the class closes for 10 days. There followed an outcry as to how parents would cope, with the government calling on family solidarity. In preparation, lessons have been recorded so children can learn from home.
There are radio and TV adds warning of the dangers, and telling us to wash our hands. Schoolchildren are warned to cough, or sneeze into the crook of their arms. My four year old sneezes and then says 'whoops, and, a little too late, sticks her head against her arm.
I went back to work at the University last week, and was surprised to see a government sponsored notice on the toilet door showing me how to wash my hands. The fact that there is usually no soap and one dirty towel rather weakens the force of the message. I also discovered that a company in which I teach English, has set up a 'Grippe H1N1' committee to plan for an eventual outbreak in the company. The purchasing department has ordered face masks and handwash. Then on the radio, this morning, I heard the government is looking for new ways to fill the hole in the Social security budget. A hole made larger by its order for Tamiflu in case of an epidemic.
I must admit to being a little sceptical about the whole swine flu crisis. It seems to me that advertising agencies, printers, mask and soap manufacturers, and above all pharmaceutical companies are going to make a lot of money. I am prepared to believe that a lot of people will have the swine flu, maybe even me. My job as a teacher makes it all the more likely, due to the number of people I meet and shake hands with in a day. However, we are told it is no worse for a healthy individual than an ordinary flu. So if I do get it, I will take the time off work, losing money as I am a freelancer, but that would be the case if I had normal flu. I will stay in bed, with my aspirin, and wait for it to pass. I find it hard to picture the doomsday scenario of closed borders, empty supermarkets, grounded planes, and stationary trains and buses. I think, that the economic crisis has frightened people and they are searching for a bigger crisis to take their minds off it.
That hasn't stopped me giving in to the psychosis and popping to my chemists to by a handwash! I am even thinking of promoting my telephone lessons as a way to avoid the spread of swine flu!
