Influenza/Influencia

It's funny how fast things can change.  One moment you're living in the middle of the churning grind of one of the world's largest cities, the next moment, the city is a ghost town, spotted by people walking around with blue masks.  It has been a bizarre weekend in Mexico City.  My good friend Sarah came to visit for nine days and left just in the nick of time, for it was precisely as I was taking the metro home after dropping her off at the airport, that the news of "swine flu" or "la gripe porcina"  hit the press.  Apparently, there had been reported cases for three weeks prior to the time that the government decided to alert the public at 11 PM on Thursday night, but who really knows the reason for that discrepancy?  Political cover-up?  Lack of sufficient information?

So, what is it like being at the hub of what is feared to be a potential international pandemic?  Strange, to say the least.  It is all anyone can talk about.  I find it fascinating how being in different groups of people can influence my feelings about la influenza.  On Saturday morning, after reading the news, talking to my concerned parents, and going over the details with my friend, Gia (who, like myself, has a tendency towards hypochondria), I felt myself engulfed with panic.  I was sure that the reason I woke up with a dry nasal passage and slight headache on Saturday was because I was in the beginning stages of swine flu and that days later I would find myself in the hospital.  I was sure that this would be the way that I would go- an ironic death to swine flu (could there be a worse name for a disease?).  Hours later, after being around other people at the Casa who were less than worried and skeptical of this new fashion statement sweeping the city, white or blue hospital masks, I calmed down significantly.  I also did a little math on the calculator at the Casa reception desk.  In a city of over 20 million, more or less 1,000 reported cases leaves me with a 1 in 20,000 chances of contracting la gripa porcina.  Whew.  There is some comfort in numbers.

The affect that this scare has had on the city is amazing.  Mexican cultural norms have been shaken as people no longer feel comfortable greeting each other with a kiss.  Schools are closed, restaurants are closed, the Sunday traditions of Catholic mass and soccer games have been suspended, all public events are cancelled (including a Quaker Yearly Meeting that I was going to attend this weekend way in the north Mexico), the streets are empty, the city bustle has disappeared.  People who have kept their businesses open wear protective masks and gloves.  I have avoided one of my favorite activities- riding the metro- as it seems that the confluence of people on those crowded cars could be a breeding ground for the virus.  The overall atmosphere is grim and dreary.  People cope by either finding humor and irony in the whole situation ("in celebration of swine flu week, let's buy pork tacos!") or by resorting to complete panic.  One of the volunteers left the Casa for several days because she felt unsafe with the constant coming and going of guests, visitors, etc.   Another friend is considering flying back to the States now for fear that the airport will close in several days.  Group reservations have been cancelled; our numbers here at the Casa are very low.  

The whole thing seems unreal to me.  The most mind-boggling aspect is the news coverage.  Oh gosh, just as I was typing that a tremor went through the house and my desk began to sway back and forth.  It seems that when it rains, it pours.  Is an earthquake next?  I doubt it, but at any rate, this does not look good for Mexico.  Between news coverage of the drug-trafficking violence on the border to the swine flu (which apparently, did not originate in Mexico but in Texas), I think that many Americans probably believe that Mexico is experiencing a total societal breakdown and that people are running desperate through the streets.  I was greeted this morning by a friend's status on facebook which read, "Illegal immigrants...swine flu... what's next, Mexico?"  and promptly deleted him from my list of friends.  Such total ignorance.  

Anyway, as I was saying, the news coverage!  It's maddening!  It serves to alarm people more than give them information about what's actually going on.  The reason the whole thing seems unreal to me is because the victims are so faceless.  We don't know from what part of the city they were from, how old they were, how soon they were affected, etc.  There are no interviews with victim's family members to be found.  There are just numbers.  En contrast, with the cases that have been reported in the US, we know more specific details: a boarding school in Queens, a couple in Kansas, etc.  No one I know knows anyone who has been affected.  All we know is that we have to keep washing our hands, avoiding public places, not kissing people, and watching out for normal flu-like symptoms (head and muscle ache, runny nose, high fever, red eyes, sore throat, exhaustion). 

One of the main reasons I am not overly worried is because it seems like so many people have already recovered from this disease, or at least are being effectively treated.  Actually, a friend of mine thinks she may have already had it and recovered from it weeks ago!  She was sicker than she's ever been in her life with all of the symptoms that are listed as characteristic of swine flu.  So, that is slightly hopeful.  And the hospital a block from my house is giving out Tamiflu for free to all who need it.  I am remaining positive, cooped inside, thinking about creative ways to spend the next week: pie baking?  board game nights?  letter-writing?  One of our quirkier guests right now has pitched several ideas to me about how to capitalize off of the swine flu frenzy (selling t-shirts with blue-masked pigs that say "Welcome to Mexico City," designing masks with colorful patterns and figures for wearers to express their individuality).  All irony aside, we are taking this seriously at the Casa and have cancelled all of our normal weekly events.  We are not accepting new guests until Wednesday when we think that there will be a better understanding of the scope of this thing (ie: stabilization or pandemic proportions).  I will keep you updated.  In the meantime, don't worry too much, and your thoughts and prayers would be much appreciated.  

Reporting live from Mexico City,

Heatherika