How far would you consider the measures taken by various countries to contain the spread of swine flu adequate and effective?

Swine flu (H1N1), when compared to the Bird flu (H5N1) or SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), is not as deadly, but undoubtedly equally as contagious. The death count of the swine flu is very low, when compared to the bird flu and SARS, and the treatability is also very high. Even so, countries around the world are taking many preventive measures, to ensure that the virus is kept contained and does not spread.

When the virus first surfaced, no one knew how deadly it could be. It could leave a devastating impact like that of the Black Plague, or it could just be an almost harmless strain of virus. Asia, having experienced SARS and the bird flu within the past five years, began to step up its security measures to ward off the virus, as well as to control it. Quarantines as well as self-quarantines has been heavily imposed to make sure that the virus gets contained within one host only. Safety checks at airports include heat sensors to make sure travellers entering the nation are not infected with the virus. Simply tests are also conducted on people arriving, for example, taking temperature. Travellers found with flu-like symptoms, even as minute as fever, are taken to hospitals for further check-ups as well as quarantine. People who have travelled to other countries within the past week are not allowed to school or work, and are to be self-quarantined at home. Many companies have stepped up prevention by allowing half the workers to work directly from home via the Internet instead of coming to work. This way, if any worker gets infected, it will not transmit, and if the whole bunch of workers at work gets infected, there is still a functioning half of the company. There is a step-up in the production of surgical masks, as well as flu vaccines. All these precautions have been well carried out, albeit out of paranoia.

However, even after the restrictions have been carried out, the virus still spreads throughout the world. It all started with one guy in Mexico, and then it transmitted to many others, who in turn, took the plane, and due to poorly conducted measures, the virus then transmitted past the borders of Mexico. This partly has to do with fact that flu-like symptoms only occur after the host has been infected for a period of time. There is no doubt that after the discovery of the virus, the measures carried out are by far, the most effective throughout the history of the Earth. However, the main problem that the virus cannot be contained is due to the fact that there were no precautions and preparations done before hand, hence the virus was allowed to spread and multiply.

I believe that communications between the nations was also very effective, as information regarding the virus was quickly disseminated to other nations for preparations and preventive measures to be carried out. Even so, there is no way the virus can be contained just by the government alone. Henceforth, individuals like us have to play a part in containing the virus, as well as preventing ourselves from catching the virus. Thus, governments have effectively come up with media campaigns which educated the public on proper hygiene, as well as the nature of the virus.

I personally feel that the preventive measures carried out by the different nations are very effective in reducing spread of the virus, though at the same time, compromising on economic factors like tourism. Indeed, the virus is of utmost importance, but if precautions and preparations were carried out before hand, then there would have been no problem dealing with the virus. The root of the problem is most important, and if the root of the problem was dealt with, then there would not have been such a spreading of the swine flu. Instead of targeting how to solve the spreading problem after the virus has spread, why not just make preparations before hand?