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Ear to the Ground

Harsh Methods Help China Keep Swine Flu at Bay

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Posted on Nov 11, 2009
Flickr / Wootang01

China’s authoritarianism has apparently helped the country keep a lid on the global H1N1 pandemic. Similarly populated India has experienced nearly 17 times as many deaths from the disease. The United States, with less than a quarter of China’s population, has recorded about 133 times as many deaths.

That’s obviously a comparison of three very different countries, but there should be no doubt after the SARS debacle that China is a densely populated hub of international travel perfectly capable of spreading disease.

That Beijing has managed to keep things mostly under control suggests that its draconian measures—which have included the quarantine of thousands of visiting foreigners at the slightest provocation—are working.

Another step that could help, as The New York Times reports, is the country’s determination to develop a vaccine as quickly as possible. That and the educational and unintentionally humorous use of red banners.  —PZS

New York Times:

Chinese and Western officials say Chinese leaders put in place a comprehensive plan for a pandemic outbreak after the disastrous experience of SARS. This includes, at least in the first stages, some of the stringent quarantine measures of the SARS era, but also emphasizes educating the population about the disease: A red banner hanging from the balcony of a rural school building here in Guangdong Province says: “H1N1 flu is preventable, controllable and curable, and not terrifying.”

The government was so anxious to stay ahead of H1N1 that officials decided in June to start developing a vaccine even though testing kits for measuring the dosage of the agent in the experimental vaccines had not arrived from the W.H.O., said Zhao Kai, a virologist who advises the government. It was an unusual step, but on Sept. 5 China became the first country to declare that it had discovered a vaccine, and by late October it had produced nearly 53 million doses.

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By mandinka, November 14, 2009 at 8:12 pm Link to this comment

Hey Lee don’t let facts get in the way of your liberal logic. The red herring is your convoluted reasoning that Harvard published on medical costs isn’t true.
Every and I man every researcher says the same thing preventive medicine costs the system $500 BILLION a year. You want to fix healthcare there’s the $$, or do you just want to huff and puff

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By Lee4, November 13, 2009 at 9:49 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

mandinka-
Tort Reform is a red herring smoke and mirrors - HEY ! LOOK AT ME !
dishonest
scheme because you want to remain obstructionist instead of working on
health reform.

The most important stat of your red herring you never printed.

The dollar amount of settled lawsuits equals one half of one percent of all
monies.

The stats you projected are what the Insurance Industrial Complex gambles
away and CONTINUES gambling away in Stock Market gambling.
And, in order to make back what they’ve lost,  well ....... 

The fake cry of Tort Reform is by the Chamber of Commerce and corporate
shills to try to make more profit by dodging substandard product liability.

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By mandinka, November 12, 2009 at 10:15 am Link to this comment

NYCartis, no I don’t favor single payer or anything being voted on now in congress. Until tort reform is addressed is fixed medical costs will continue to rise. Here are some Facts:
> the government denies MORE claims and procedures than the insurance companies
> due to defensive medicine 25% of all medical tests and 15% of all hospital admissions are done to prevent lawsuits
> we have 5% of the population and 48% of the worlds attorneys
> malpractice premiums in this country average $300,000 K a year while in other countries they are less than $10K

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By NYCartist, November 12, 2009 at 9:50 am Link to this comment

Aarky,
  My spouse had a reaction to the pneumonia booster.Not safe for everyone.

mandika,
  The story I told about on http://www.propublica is about NYS, not at federal level.  I don’t “have to get used to it”.  I hope you will join us in fighting for Singlepayer for all.  Surely you don’t think the Republicans do better? See http://www.notdeadyet.org  Thanks for reading my comment!

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By Aarky, November 11, 2009 at 9:56 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

Over 35 years ago I visited Japan in the winter. I was astounded at how many people wore face masks to prevent airborne disease. There seems to be an acceptance in those countries to use this type of simple preventive technique. The US Pooh-poohs the simple face mask and it might be part of our Macho self-image to not wear the mask. One of the best ways to protect against the effects of swine flu or regular flu is to get a Pneumovax vaccine shot. It protects aginst 23 varieties of bacterial pnuemonia. Remember, the flu doesn’t kill you, the pneumonia sneaks in and gets you.

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By mandinka, November 11, 2009 at 8:54 pm Link to this comment

NYcartist, better get use to it if healthcare passes this Barak and his health czar will meet everyday and make those decisions

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By NYCartist, November 11, 2009 at 4:07 pm Link to this comment

I’d like more evidence before accepting as true the claim that authoritarian ways work, even in this instance.
There was a horrible story on http://www.propublica.org on the plan of NYS for epidemic, including triage with an awful example - taking away someone with lung disease’s breathing equipment to give to someone else because they might live.  Who gets to make these “triage” decisions?  The New Orleans post-Katrina murders by physicians of patients is a glaring example.  See Not Dead Yet http://www.notdeadyet.org

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By mandinka, November 11, 2009 at 3:52 pm Link to this comment

Having just visited the country it isn’t the least bit authorian in controlling the disease. They are doing what any responsible country would do. If you want to visit they take a thermal scan if you run a fever your quarantined until your able to mingle with their people.
Besides Barack told us not to worry about the disease and refused to take any reasonable actions to stem the tide. I’m hoping that those who have been injured by the Swine Flu sue barack for malfeasance in office

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