Scenes of an ordinary apocalypse

On Sunday evening, people returning home from their Sunday outings must have seen the incredible number of ambulances on the main roads. One assumes they were called out to take people to hospital as a result of the Aussie flu crisis that has hit Malta. The emergency services are working at full tilt, people have flocked to A&E, and space and beds at the hospital are in short supply. This happens every year, as soon as the Christmas celebrations are over, but this year, the Aussie flu strain is particularly virulent. In a way, the procession of ambulances with flashing lights and sirens reminded one of the days of the plague, with only the cry of ‘bring out your dead’ missing. There is, of course, no comparison between the flu and the plague, except for one aspect – the result of infection spreading among the population. As is explained in the Department of Health information and the additional brochure we reproduce on page 3, flu is highly contagious and the first five days of the infection are particularly infectious. This is why we say that the spread of flu is, in most cases, a contagion brought upon ourselves. Simply put, people who are sick must avoid spreading the infection. Of course, this is more honoured in the breach than in the observance. And contrary to what some might think, the flu wave has not yet reached its apex – with schools reopening and with many parents sending their sick children to school because there is no one to take care of them at home, infections will pass from one child to the next and to that second child’s family as well. Until all families are down with the flu. Likewise, people who are sick should avoid places where people congregate – like buses, shops, churches, etc. People who are sick should avoid sneezing in people’s faces on the streets. Retail owners, especially grocers and people handling food, must shut up shop if they are sick and cannot get replacements. If everyone acted responsibly, we would have less sick people and our health system would not need to be brought to the point of collapse, as has happened. Most of the people who are sick will undoubtedly recover after a week of misery. But the old, the already sick and the infirm may not survive the bout of flu.