UPDATED: Seems that the AH1N1 virus, infamously known as the “swine flu” has been frightening Armenians so much that the Ministry of Education decided to close all schools for two weeks. Apparently 49 cases of the virus have been registered nationwide.
People have been wearing masks all around town from what I’ve heard—I saw some women with masks on shopping in the Gomidas market last week. All Tamiflu supplies in the country have already been snapped up by paranoid Armenians who are overly (and needlessly I should add) concerned about contracting the virus. Despite the hype, out of 4,100,000 reported cases worldwide (confirmed and probable) purportedly only an estimated 9,300 people have died from the virus since last spring. And those who are seriously suffering from the virus by and large have compromised immune systems. If you aren’t sick to begin with, it’s unlikely that the AH1N1 virus will have any debilitating effects on you—this has been documented.
So why are healthy Armenians freaking out? Most likely due to a lack of information provided by the Ministry of Health. If the ministry was properly notifying people about the low risks associated with the virus in general, people would not be so paranoid about contracting it and dying from it. It’s all about education, and sadly, the Ministry of Health has a poor record of not only keeping the state healthcare system up to par, it also does not properly inform Armenian citizens about these types of situations.
Although more Tamiflu doses are apparently on the way, the government has to do a better job of rationing them (which as far as I have surmised they haven’t been doing at all). As soon as Tamiflu hits pharmacies, it’s snapped up. You don’t need a doctor’s prescription to buy medications in Armenia.
I for one am not concerned about the swine flu in the slightest. I don’t anticipate catching an common flu virus and even if I do catch one, I’m not sick to begin with and have no reason to become gravely ill. I’m confident the same holds true for the majority of Armenians. Too bad they’re clueless.
December 15 update: Seems I was wrong. Two deaths from the AH1N1 virus have been reported as of December 14.
Recent Comments