# 3222
According to yesterday’s news reports, a number of nations (including the UK, China, and Japan) have pleaded with the WHO not to raise the pandemic alert level because – and I’m quoting here - a swine-flu pandemic declaration could spark mass panic and economic devastation.
Are they serious?
So . . .it isn’t so much the pandemic . . .it’s the declaration that is the problem?
I love absurdity as much (perhaps more) than the next guy.
I cut my teeth on the writings of Thurber and Benchley, devoured MAD Magazine each month growing up, and would stay up late on Saturday Night for my weekly dose of Pythonesque humor.
But to actually come out and announce that the reason you don’t want to call it a pandemic is (no, not because it isn’t a pandemic) but to avoid panic – is, well . . absurd.
Doctor: “The reason I’m not giving you your medical test results is because I don’t want you to panic.”
Patient: “Thank God! For a moment there, you had me worried!”
Doctor: “No problem. We’ll just touch up your x-rays and you can be on your way.”
It’s come to this? Really?
Have officials become so insulated from the real world that they believe they can lie – admit they are lying – and still expect us to believe them?
Oh, I understand that raising the pandemic level would probably invoke a bunch of economically undesirable actions around the world. And that what you call the level isn’t nearly as important as what you do to prepare.
But these are things that can be remedied. If there are Phase 6 `tripwires’, like airport closings and travel restrictions, then amend them.
With the world facing a pandemic- vaccines, and antivirals, and PPEs likely to be in short supply. Government agencies are going to need the trust and cooperation of the people in order to get through this, and for that they need credibility.
It is a pity to see so many of them willing to toss that away so early in the game.
With apologies to the Ghost of Orson Welles, Paul Masson Wines, and to anyone who was expecting a funnier or less snarky essay – MPC
