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| Yes | 57% | 65 votes | Total: 115 votes | |
| No | 43% | 50 votes |
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Add to FavoritesThe United States government has aggressively responded appropriately to the swine flu outbreak. Due to the fact that this virus, which is now called H1N1 is basically unknown as far as its potency, our government has been extremely careful to put into place a series of precautions that alleviate and allay a lot of fears.
Whenever a pandemic is approaching, lives are at stake. One life is precious, and when it comes to a people thinking about their lives being snuffed out by an unknown virus, it becomes scary. Janette Napolitano, and her staff, have done a lot to stay on top of the the crisis. Full disclosure and preparation were in the forefront. The stocking of antivirual drugs such as Tamiflu has done much to give Americans hope in case the virus reaches a pandemic stage. Even raising the alert level to 5 helped people to proceed with caution when it came to washing their hands after being in crowded public places.
The Center for Disease Control rapidly put into place research to ascertain what kind of characteristics defined the H1N1 virus. They were able to tell the public that this particular influenza virus had mutated into humans from a swine and avion, or bird source. The virus, thusly, was unlike any previously known although it was similar to the one caused by swine earlier. The fact that it was killing people in Mexico also led researchers to believe that the epicenter of the virus stemmed from Mexico. The rapidity with which it spread was uncertain, however, the spread of the disease over a week period proved that it had been spotted in 36 states in America with only two deaths. Many college students who had gone to Cancun, Mexico, were thought to have brought the virus to the United States after recreationing there during their spring break.
The American public was also given the opportunity to ask questions about the virus on stations such as CNN and other like news sources. Able and competent doctors sought to answer these questions with the best information that they had obtained. This reduced panic, however, states like New York did see a run for the antiviral medicine, Tamiflu. This showed that Americans want the assurance that they will have the medicine available to them should the outbreak worsen and infect them and their households.
Amazingly enough, however, this virus has not been as potent here in the United States as in Mexico. The extra precautions put in place by Homeland Security and other governmental agencies can be thanked for helping us to understand our part in preventing the spread of the disease. Hand washing, coughing into one's arm, cleaning publicly used surfaces, and being on the alert for people who might be infected by the virus were just some of the precautions the American people were asked to adhere to along with school closings and the cancelling of sports activities where large crowds might come in contact with the virus.
Yes, the United States government has, and is. still doing their part to assure its citizens that they are on top of things in disease transmission of the H1N1 virus. We can certainly be thankful that they have done all they can and are doing all they can to keep us alive and safe.
Learn more about this author, Toni Doswell.
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No
The United States Government wants to avoid panic about the Swine Flu which threatens to become a world wide pandemic. Asian countries have instituted the use of thermal scanners at airports to check for signs of fever in travelers. Travel to and from Mexico has been restricted in many parts of the world. In fact, many European nations now are advising their citizens to not travel to North America at all.
Meanwhile, the United States still has the border to Mexico open, and travelers in cars are waved on through without being stopped to see if they were ill. If anyone did report that they felt unwell, they were not stopped, but rather allowed to enter the United States.
Some travelers who came into the country wearing face masks were simply told that they did not need to wear them in America. People are just being given the routine precautions such as washing your hands frequently, not hugging or kissing anyone you don't know or who might be ill, and calling your doctor if you exhibit any symptoms.
Antiviral medications, like Tamiflu, are being shipped to states abutting the Mexican border, but the illness has already spread as far as New York City. Although the World Health Organization has raised the alert level from 3 to 4 (with 6 being a pandemic), most of the United States Government efforts are targeted at hospitals and schools. Individual citizens are on their own in trying to protect their own health.
President Obama states that the virus is a cause for concern, but that we shouldn't be alarmed. Yet you can find many medical professionals in the media stating that they "just don't know what will happen". With things on a day by day basis, the United States finally decided to instruct people not to travel to Mexico unless it is necessary. Meanwhile, Mexico City remains virtually shut down, and is likely the epicenter of the disease.
Since other countries are being much more proactive than the United States in keeping their citizens at home, providing face masks, and travel screening for incoming visitors, I feel that our country should have taken the lead as a world super power in protecting our citizens. Yet instead, we still allow people from Mexico to come freely into our country, both legally and illegally, where they may not only bring in Swine Flu, they will likely also use more and more of our hospital resources.
It's time for the United States to step up to the plate and protect our own. Why wait for the spread to become a pandemic before preparing for it. The old saying "Expect the Best, but Prepare for the Worst" comes to mind. It certainly seems appropriate for the failure of the government to look out for US Citizens first.
Learn more about this author, Laura Hinds.
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