Following my 'flu forecast on Thursday in which I raised the socio-economic angle to the pandemic, yesterday in the NYT the significance of Mexican culture is highlighted further. Dr Andrew Paxman, an expert in all things Mexican [I can say that as his sister] clarifies as well that it is the loss of wages posed by a day spent queuing in hospital that is one significant deterrent for people seeking help. Culturally he also says that Mexicans are 'stoical' about illness and fond of self-medicating as far as possible, a point also made in the NYT article. Going to the doctor or hospital is the last resort, when all else has failed. And tragically as we have seen, it has been too late in many cases already.
While there are still many unanswered questions about the virus, which the evidence shows is highly contagious, it is right that the government takes precautions. But in order to maintain a realistic perspective we need to be aware of the history and cultural circumstances of the deaths now being found to be caused by swine 'flu [or H1N1 influenza A as WHO now call it]. Maybe it's people of working age who have died because they were the ones who didn't want to take a day off work? With a reported 20% rise in 'sickies' in the UK in the past few days already, and a freely available NHS, that is never going to happen here! Tomorrow my cousin returns from 2 weeks in Mexico with a group of fellow doctors; I wonder if they will find themselves on extended leave...
