One can only hope that the swine-flu outbreak that dominated the news last week is not as serious as first was thought. The latest evidence suggests that might be true. I'm hopeful, but I'm still worried and will be until this time next year.
The type A H1N1 virus is a new one that developed from existing human, avian and swine viruses. Our bodies have no immunity. A vaccine does not currently exist.
The virus is of the same variety as the Spanish flu, which took hold in September 1918 and lasted until June 1920. It was the greatest medical holocaust in history, killing 20 million to 40 million people worldwide, or about 5 percent of the world's population. About 650,000 Americans died.
What's strange about this new flu strain and the Spanish flu are the apparent coincidences. This new flu appears to have started in March near hog farms in Mexico. The first confirmed cases of the Spanish flu occurred on March 11, 1918, at Fort Riley, Kan., where hogs, chickens and people were close together. It did not take hold until the fall of that year, and then it came in waves.
This new flu apparently is most deadly for those age 20 to 40, the same group most at risk during the Spanish flu pandemic. It kills healthy people because the bodies of healthy people overreact to the intruding virus. The body's immune system goes ballistic. It's all hands on deck. Your lungs are destroyed in the ensuing battle. Those who die turn blue from lack of oxygen and suffocate in their own fluids. Are you scared now? Well, we should be.
The good news is that a mild wave now could give us enough time to produce vaccines before the next wave. Two existing anti-viral drugs are effective against this new flu. We live in a place where we have competent public-health officials, and multiple health clinics and hospitals staffed by people who know what they are doing. I can say that with confidence because I have met many of them. None of that existed in 1918. And, we have local, state and national plans in place for responding to a pandemic thanks to President George W. Bush. There's a lot that Bush did not get right, but he got that one right.
So what's this have to do with watching Range Line?
If we have a confirmed case of the new virus and it takes hold, it could well change the way we live. Some have said Vice President Joe Biden stuck his foot in his mouth when he said he would not be traveling on an airplane or riding the subway or be in any confined space with other people while this virus is afoot. Hey Joe, I'm with you. Thanks for telling the truth.
When the swine flu comes here - and it will - you won't see me in a crowded movie house. You won't see me in a crowded restaurant. You won't see me going to the hospital to visit a sick relative. You won't see me anywhere near someone who is coughing. I'm going to do what the experts recommend: wash my hands, cover my cough and limit my exposure as much as possible.
This new virus could do more to depress economic activity than any meltdown on Wall Street. It happened during the Spanish flu outbreak. Cities adopted ordinances that limited the length of a funeral to 15 minutes. Stores could not hold sales. Churches were empty on Sundays. Public events were canceled.
No one knows what could happen this fall if the virus mutates. For the here and now, I'm hoping that our first case will not come until after school is out and until after we have staged our local high-school commencement programs. My oldest son is graduating this year from Joplin High School. Thousands of proud parents and grandparents will gather together in one place to watch these students get their diplomas. Let's hope this virus arrives later than sooner.
Coming next week
Charley's Grilled Subs has opened in the food court at Northpark Mall, and the Butterfly Koffee Klatch has opened in the former Taco Mayo building just west of Seventh Street and Range Line Road.
Details to come.
If you have news about something happening on Range Line Road, dial (417) 623-3480, ext. 7250; or send an e-mail to wkennedy@joplinglobe.com; or send a fax to Wally Kennedy at (417) 623-8598.
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