Horton Chatty hears a W.H.O.

    Chatty has been planning a trip to Cancun for about 8 months now.

    Her trip is scheduled for the first week of June.

    The U.S. government and the World Health Organization* A lot of people have been trying to scare Chatty out of going.

    Out of going on a trip she started planning 8 months ago.

    Using tickets she paid for 8 months ago.

    Because Chatty should not make a "non-essential" trip to Mexico.

    Nobody defines non-essential - but Chatty is guessing that it includes trips that have been planned for 8 months.

    In Chatty's case, it is a trip to Cancun - a city of 600,000 people - with only TWO reported mild cases of this flu. And by "mild", Chatty means - recovered within a week with no problems.

    Chatty is wondering.

    The news reports have terrified us with words like "pandemic", and remind us of the great flu pandemic of 1918, which killed (depending on your sources) anywhere from 50 to 100 million people.

    However, the actual statistics concerning this current scurge are - under 6,000 people sickened, and 68 dead - world-wide.**

    And, when Chatty went to the CDC website, she learned that - on average - 5%-20% of the U.S. population gets the flu, 200,000 people are hospitalized from complications of the flu, and 36,000 die of flu-related illnesses every year.

    Yes.

    Every year.

    It seems that these two sets of figures are WAY out of balance.

    So - flu's got the money?

    Because someone, somewhere, is (or will be) making a GREAT deal of money out of this.

    OF COURSE, this strain of flu must be followed, researched, and reviewed...constantly.

    AND, it is absolutely necessary that this flu (having hit the northern hemisphere at the end of the "typical" flu season) should be carefully monitored in the southern hemisphere (which is beginning its flu season) - because it may recur in a more deadly strain in the northern hemisphere come next fall - for which we should all be prepared.

    BUT - Chatty found it astounding that for a a couple of weeks, her local stores and major websites had upped the cost of things like facial masks and hand-sanitizers by about 1000% (and yes, Chatty knows that there can only be 100% of ANYTHING - she's seen "The Producers", after all!)

    What's up with that?

    In case you were thinking of purchasing masks (even ones rated N-95), think twice. Chatty has done enough research to assure you without hesitation that while facial masks are good at filtering pollen and dust - they are about as useful against flu germs (or any airborn viruses) as a spaghetti strainer is against water.

    And, Chatty also knows that the best defense against any airborn virus is washing her hands frequently. Since that is not always possible when traveling, she has plenty of hand-sanitizers - in handy bottles for purse and pocket.

    Chatty was also raised to believe that IF you must sneeze or cough, you should cover your mouth - and NOT with your hand, but with your arm.

    Apparently, a lot of people don't know (or care) about covering one's mouth when sneezing or coughing - and more particularly that the covering should be done with an arm, not a hand. But, Chatty had a couple of doctors in the family who told her about this way back when she was a mere stripling. And, when you think about it, it makes sense. Your arm is less likely to come in contact with things that might pass the germs along - whereas your hands touch EVERYTHING.

    Chatty's mom always described things like covering your mouth when sneezing or coughing as "common courtesy" - but Chatty has come to learn that there is NOTHING "common" about courtesy.

    She's just sayin'.

    In any case, Chatty is just as likely to be sneezed-upon in the U.S. as she is to be sneezed-upon in Mexico. Actually, right now, she is LESS likely to be sneezed-upon in Mexico than she is in the U.S. - because the citizens of Mexico are hyper-alert to the situation.

    Chatty loves Mexico. She has been there several times, and has beautiful memories of the country and the people.

    She also realizes what this flu frenzy is doing to Mexico's economy - which was not doing too well even before this latest scare.

    So, Chatty is going to Mexico, as planned.

    She knows that she will have an excellent time - drifting along underground rivers, climbing ancient pyramids, swimming in the sea and in lagoons, and eating fabulous food.

    Does this mean that Chatty is crazy?

    Maybe.

    But Chatty likes to think of it this way - if (worst case scenario) Chatty DOES get the flu in Mexico - it will be the current (and mildest) strain. So, if this flu DOES come back with a vengeance next fall - Chatty will at least have built up a bit of immunity.

    As far as Chatty is concerned, this makes her trip to Mexico a win/win situation.

    Of course, if 2,000 people in Cancun drop dead of flu in the next two weeks, Chatty will have to re-assess the situation.

* OK, OK - don't get in a swivet defending WHO - Chatty knows that the organization stopped suggesting no travel as of a few days ago - she just couldn't resist a nod to Dr. Seuss...

**These figures change daily, and depend a lot upon who is doing the counting. Nobody can seem to agree. So, what else is new?