Nothing to Fear?

How shallow of me to be whingeing on about what not to wear while the world holds its breath, stifles a sneeze and waits to see if it has Swine Flu.

Are we affected? Oh yes. At the epicentre of the SARS crisis in 2003 when more than 300 people died and the island emptied overnight, Hong Kong has announced some of the toughest measures anywhere in response to the outbreak in Mexico and USA. It might have something to do with having one of the highest population densities in the world.

Ever since SARS Hong Kong has used infrared scanners to measure the facial temperatures of all arrivals at its airport and its border crossings with mainland China. Any traveller who has passed through a city with laboratory-confirmed cases and who arrives in Hong Kong with a fever and respiratory symptoms will be intercepted by officials and detained in hospital until tests can be shown to be negative.

The schools have been quick to respond. Guidelines for personal and environmental hygiene have been issued and information circulated on heightened measures for cleaning and disinfecting school premises.

Now, as in 2003, there is a run on surgical masks, bleach and disinfectant wipes.

At the New School parents are expected to take the child’s temperature each morning and record the result in writing in the homework diary. If a child’s temperature exceeds 37 degrees the child must stay at home.

And the best news came by email today: the Hong Kong Government has stated that if there is one case of the swine flu infection in Hong Kong they will close the schools.

Really? We are expected to be Good Citizens and get busy learning at home online. The school has recommended we check our broadband connections and ensure we have enough printer toner/ink and paper. Children were even sent home from the Old School yesterday with all their text books just in case the first case comes to light over the holiday weekend.

I have a much better plan: given that the Pioneering Accountant’s work commitments are winding down and the schools are likely to be closed, is it not the perfect chance to go travelling? Perhaps not to Mexico, but there are lots of other places we had hoped to see in the course of our three year stay. Irresponsible? Possibly, but I promise we’ll take our surgical masks, sterile wipes and thermometers with us.

Today we took a ferry to the outlying island of Cheung Chau which is celebrating the Bun Festival this weekend. We wandered amongst the crowds of pedestrians (there are no motor vehicles on Cheung Chau) and admired the Pak Tai Temple and the bun towers all ready for tomorrow’s climbers to scramble up in an attempt to grab as many buns as possible. The air was thick with incense and a Chinese opera was being performed in front of the temple as people arrived with gifts of food to pay tribute to Pak Tai who is reputed to have thrown the prince of evil out of heaven and driven away the pirates that plagued the island for many years.

We ordered lunch of fried chicken but we ate fried soya for the island turns vegetarian for the duration of the four day festival. Even the local Macdonald’s outlet ceases to sell burgers at this time.

As we drifted around the quaint fishing village with its colourful flags and stalls we were stopped by a journalist from the South China Morning Post. She asked us where we had come from and whether we were staying overnight.
No need for that as Hong Kong is only half an hour away by ferry.
Are you scared she asked?
Of what? We replied.
Of Swine Flu.
Gracious me, no, I said. I would think Hong Kong is about the safest place to be given the lessons learned during SARS.

Then she asked for my name. I shall be looking out for my quote in the SCMP over the next few days. I just hope it doesn’t come back and bite me!

UPDATE: HOT OFF THE PRESS! My husband has just come in to tell me that the first case has been reported this evening in Wan Chai. A Mexican who arrived in Hong Kong from Shanghai is now in hospital with suspected Swine Flu. Watch this space….