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“We’re more isolated from the world than ever,” wrote my Mexican partner in an email this morning. “Over 300 people were shut off inside a hotel in Hong Kong just for being in contact with a Mexican, and Japan has suspended the visa exemption for Mexicans. This is going to make travel even harder for us.”
My first response was a feeling of total deflation. As if it weren’t hard enough to coordinate visas and bureaucracy and paperwork for him whenever we travel somewhere, now there’s the added discrimination of swine flu paranoia.
I went on my morning mission of finding swine flu updates, article after article presenting what seemed to be hopeful news – “epidemic in decline”, “the critical moment has passed” – only to immediately clarify that that the danger is more imminent than ever and one should stay tuned to all future updates in a state of panic and high alert.
Then the feeling of deflation turned to anger and defiance. I’ve been in contact with my Mexican friends ever since the swine flu news broke, and none of them have ever said anything along the lines of:
“You don’t know who could be carrying this plague so it is best to just keep behind closed doors as much as possible.”
Or “It’s like we’re in a strange zombie movie or something” (conveniently said while “hurriedly stocking up on groceries.”)
My friends’ comments have been more fearful of the economic, political, and personal impacts that the swine flu panic will have on their lives and the lives of the people they love. Are they staying inside? Wearing masks? Yes. Are they paranoid and panicked and talking about plague and zombies? No. And neither is anyone they know.
To top it all off, a good friend of mine here in Japan works for the WHO and could not express enough scorn for the way the epidemic is being addressed.
“A pandemic simply means that the flu spreads to other places,” she said. “It doesn’t mean that it’s some sort of plague that will wipe out the planet.”
Sensationalism is nothing new, and is in fact pretty much the standard, in the global media. But I’ve been particularly irritated by it this time since it hits so close to home.
And yet towards the end of the day, after a long back-and-forth with friends in Mexico, my frustration calmed and I came to thinking that travel abroad is more important than ever in moments like this. I’d felt a rising panic, reading reports from Britain to Japan about swine flu, and then I remembered that wait, I’ve lived in Mexico, many people I love are in Mexico, and most of what they’re saying doesn’t collate with any of these frenzied stories.
And I thought about how much of the time that happens to travelers. How often do we read a story written in the New York Times or the Telegraph or any newspaper anywhere and think, “Hey, that has nothing to do with what I’ve seen and felt and experienced in a place?”
Which is why, instead of getting swept up in paranoia and letting the media enjoy a global fear spree, maybe travelers can step back and use this moment to appreciate the fact that they have the most important kind of information: local, place-based, human information. And if people continue to travel, and continue to rely on what they see and hear and understand through traveling, than perhaps we won’t be so dependent on the alarmist discourses telling us to panic and close our doors.
Ok. That’s all for today. I’m signing off now to go fight the zombies for more canned goods.
UPDATE: Swine flu might be overblown, but there are other health issues that don’t get enough attention in the mass media. Read “What Should Worry You More Than Swine Flu” at Matador Change to get informed.
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18 Comments... join the discussion!
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I just read an article here in Oz…it states, even though there have been no confirmed cases in Australia, that it is inevitable it will hit here. Talk about fear mongering.
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Right on, Sarah. I’m here in Mexico and while people are worried–especially people with kids–mostly they’re going about their business. I’ve yet to talk to anyone who actually knows anyone who’s gotten sick–not even “my cousin’s sister-in-law’s hairdresser” kind of stories.
But already folks are feeling the sudden drop in tourism–which had already been dropping off because of all the crazy “war next door” coverage of border drug violence–and a friend of mine in California, an electrician, says she’s seeing her Mexican coworkers get suspicious looks and get avoided on the jobsite…and–enough already!
I think you’re right on with the zombies–too many people have seen too many movies like “I am Legend” and think, oh, of course that’s what’s going to happen! Well, I’m here at ground zero and–not even close.
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Right on, Sarah. You’ve got such a nice conversational pitch to your writing. Seems effortless, and the points come across loud and clear.
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Fantastic piece Sarah. Way to fight those fear-mongering bastards. how come i’m not hearing more scientific perspective / context about how “regular” influenza viruses kill 10s of thousands of people every year.
this line was massive:”how often do we read a story written in the New York Times or the Telegraph or any newspaper anywhere and think, “Hey, that has nothing to do with what I’ve seen and felt and experienced in a place?” right there with you.
thanks for bringing the real connection. that’s what’s up.
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Great post Sarah. Keep up the good work.
Tumbrella
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Great piece, Sarah.
The only thing I have to add is that the important word in this disease is flu. Flu – not “airborne ebola virus.” It is tragic that those who have died from this have, but it is a flu.
Yes, we should all be doing what we can to see that this doesn’t spread to the weakest – the old and very young and immune compromised – bit it’s only a flu and so most people will live to fight more zombies – even if they do catch it. Suerte.
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Thanks for the positive comments, everyone! I’ve been talking to people over here in Japan and my friends and colleagues are all blown away by the magnitude of this story and the way the global media–not just the American media, or the British media, but really the mass media everywhere–has just gone nuts with this. And all the articles seem to follow a similar format- reluctantly reporting the truth/facts (the epidemic has been contained, only 19 people have died, the flu is completely curable and there is enough medication, etc) and then instantly and unabashedly resorting to ridiculous fear tactics. Random quotes from random people who are “terrified” or who liken the situation to horror movies, and random snippets of ambiguous quotes from professionals saying things like “who knows what will happen.”
And man, I’m scared to see what’ll happen to Mexico in the common months. Teresa, I heard from Jorge that tourism in Oaxaca has just gone to nil in the past few weeks. It’s literally a ghost city. And that’s just devastating for all concerned. I’d love to do more traveling in Asia and am seriously worried about how much discrimination Jorge will face now.
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I’m listening to a report on Mexican tourism now on NPR – sounds rough. Such a shame for the owners of small businesses who depend on tourist dollars…
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What the shrill news coverage fails to mention is that the swine flu has yet to meet the definition of a “pandemic” or “epidemic.”
But much of the media definitely is caught in the clutches of what a Huffington Post blogger calls an “infodemic.” Or, in other words, going overboard on covering inane things like Obama’s Portugese Water Dog or Susan Boyle.
Here’s an interesting post about how the media’s tendency to focus on story lines like the Swine Flu amplifies them and makes them seem more serious than they actually are. http://www.mediabychoice.com/?p=359
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Thank you.
I’m currently working in Japan and I am visiting home for the first time in months next week, but my company has told me that on returning I will be placed under a 10 day unpaid “Quarantine” due to the pandemic. They are claiming the WHO in Japan as their source of information on this DEADLY SUPER PANDEMIC.Would it be possible for you to put me in contact with your WHO friend in Japan, or perhaps ask him what I should do? I am already taking this vacation unpaid (as I only get 11 paid vacation days a year, woo Japan!), and cannot afford to lose almost a months pay.
Thanks very much.
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Sorry, ask HER what I should do, my mistake!
And by the way, this is some great writing.
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Sarah,
I am so happy to read your article. I feel the same as you. Obviously, there are many who feel this way. We cannot allow the paranoia to get the best of us. There is being cautious and then there is …….. what we are being fed to buy into. I am planning a vacation in June/July and am not going to allow this to break my plans. If I do allow it to break my plans……. what kind of life is that to live? Take care, and thank you for your words.↵ -
Tom that’s a crazy story. Your company is insane. I’m sure they won’t enforce a quarantine, that would be utterly ridiculous.
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Loved, loved, loved this piece… you’ve totally captured all my frustrations and voiced them better than I ever could. I was in Mexico last week on vacation, and although my friends and I were aware of the flu, there was really nothing we could do about it so we enjoyed ourselves. Life continued on as normal. It was only when we arrived back in Canada that we felt panicked under the influence of everyone else…we had CBC shove cameras in our face when we landed! And I have had to take a week off from work ,despite not showing any symptoms. Ridiculous. It breaks my heart that Mexico is getting such a bad rep from this…I want to brag to everybody about my amazing vacation, but as soon as the word “Mexico” is out of my mouth, people back away.
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Before the swine flu panic came about, and most likely continuing beyond it, is the global recession. Economies are being hit hard by less people traveling – Mexico, being a huge tourist destination, is especially being hit hard right now.
Check out the sister (brother?) article explaining why we should be traveling despite the hard times.
http://matadorabroad.com/why-you-should-travel-during-the-global-recession/
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Thank you!! That’s exactly what I try to explain to my friends from other countries!
I am mexican and live in Mexico city, sure there have been some actions that may make things seem way worse (like all schools were closed for a week and a half) but were all to control.
I have a trip to europe scheduled for the end of this month and I’m seriously worried that this whole situation may hinder my plans.Our reputation has never been one of the best, I’ve even become used to the fact that people from other countries are always stereotyping me for being Mexicans… now I can already think of many ways people will blame the flu to us and it will become a new permanent label.
Either way, I know you know this already but everything’s fine here. It’s just a matter of taking care of one’s self
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Thanks so much for your thoughtful and supportive comments, Ylenia. You might like this guide to Mexico City written by Matador’s managing editor, Julie.
http://thetravelersnotebook.com/destination-guides/green-guide-to-mexico-city/
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