It might be tempting to write off the recent swine flu outbreak as an overhyped threat that scared people into wearing masks, washing their hands until chapped and staying home when sick.
But the truth is, the seemingly paranoid responses comprised the right approach to an evolving outbreak. Those “overreactions” very well could have contributed to the virus petering out the way it has.
In short, well done. But it’s way too early to let down our collective guard.
The virus could make a resurgence in the fall and winter as the temperature drops and the regular flu season begins. It’s possible a mutated version of the virus could be more virulent and deadly.
There are lessons we can learn from this recent outbreak in preparation for a potential second round, but there also are new questions that need to be addressed by public health officials before this fall.
The initial spike in cases, particularly in neighboring Mexico, raised interest in antiviral medications, such as Tamiflu. If the virus flares up, who should have access to antivirals?
It wasn’t until the virus got a foothold that researchers determined that people with certain chronic conditions, such as diabetes and asthma, were at particular risk. Doctors also learned that pregnant women, whose immune systems are suppressed as a normal part of pregnancy, were susceptible to severe cases of the flu.
Those peculiarities of the flu provide important information for public health officials as they plan for how many doses of antivirals they should have on hand.
Last year, Colorado officials decided not to buy 477,000 courses of antiviral flu medication — an allotment suggested by the federal government. Though the move saved $7 million and was justified by other public health reasons, as the nature of the flu threat evolves and more becomes known about this outbreak, it might be a decision worth revisiting.
What about vaccinations? A small percentage of people who got flu shots during the 1976 swine flu scare developed serious side effects. In fact, more people died from the vaccine than the flu.
There’s little question a swine flu vaccine ought to be developed in the next few months. But how and under what conditions will the vaccinations be delivered?
Should everyone get a dose as part of a seasonal flu shot? Only those at particular risk? Those questions must be addressed as part of a comprehensive planned response.
One very simple lesson to be taken from this swine flu outbreak, which sickened thousands of people, is the value of basic hand-washing.
As word of the outbreak spread, so did the advice that people wash up. Though the advice was intended to stop swine flu transmission, there were reports it tamped down other infections as well.
And certainly there are lessons for the media to learn, such as the importance of putting a story into a proper context without scaring people. Our fears, as well as our news stories, should be based in reality.
The lessons — and questions — are plentiful when it comes to swine flu. We hope, however, that the biggest lesson the public has learned is the value of taking such a threat seriously when it comes around again.
