It's interesting that throughout the social revolution here in Oaxaca in 2006-2007 I never contemplated returning to the United States, yet with the H1N1 flu outbreak I nearly did so. Why? I think the invisibility of this threat, the fact that you could acquire it from anyone and the intense media frenzy made it different. During the movement there were isolated areas of danger you stayed away from, with H1N1 it could be anywhere.
After a few days the panic peaked in the press. My decision not to return taught me a great deal - it allowed me to feel the edges of danger for the second time in three years. It showed me again how that for most people here life goes on regardless. If I remained in the virtual world I could easily project how my life was in danger. If I looked out the window of my house, not a thing had changed.
For me the net take away from this experience on a world scale is 1) the need for a trusted source of information away from traditional media and government that can respond rapidly at a local level - perhaps World Health Organization designated officials in local areas that post information, 2) a widespresd understanding that these epidemics can start anywhere but their cause is globally linked. Hong Kong did not start SARS and Mexico did not start H1N1. These places should not carry the legacy of these diseases. A better understanding of the complicity and connectedness all regions of the world have with each other is demanded. In North America this is exemplified in the Real News story on H1N1 below:
mark
photo by megan martin