By John W. Lillpop
Is it discriminatory to take every precaution to protect one's citizens against the Mexican swine flu?
Mexico thinks so.
As reported at Yahoo.com, in part:
"MEXICO CITY – Saying China's quarantine of 70 Mexican travelers was discrimination, Mexico announced it was chartering a plane Monday to bring its citizens home from the country. Mexican officials also declared the epidemic to be waning, but medical experts worldwide said it was to early to make that call."
Kudos to the Chinese for goading Mexico into removing its undesirables!
Now how can the U.S. irritate Mexico enough to have 38 million illegal aliens flown back to Mexico City?
WHO appeared to support the more cautious position. As reported at ft.com, in part:
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/e6260d9a-37d4-11de-9211-00144feabdc0.html
"The head of the World Health Organisation hit back at critics who have accused it of over-reaction to the swine flu crisis, warning it may return “with a vengeance” in the months ahead.
"In her first extensive media interview since alerting the world to a potential flu pandemic nine days ago, Margaret Chan, the agency’s director-general, told the Financial Times that the end of the flu season in the northern hemisphere meant an initial outbreak could be milder but then a second wave more lethal, as happened in 1918."
From the same source, Mexico's "health" minister painted a far rosier picture of the chaos in Mexico:
"Fresh data from Mexico suggested the impact of the flu could be less than initially thought. José Angel Cordova, health minister said the flu virus epidemic had passed its peak and was declining. “The evolution of the epidemic is now in its phase of descent,” he said."
In deciding WHO to believe, one must note that José Angel Cordova is hardly objective.
After all, it his third-world nation that gave the entire world the swine flu, a fact Cordova would like to cover-up with pig poo.
WHO is supposed to be independent, but given the fact that it is affiliated with the UN, WHO lacks credibility.
Why not move UN headquarters to Mexico City where Ms. Chan and WHO can see first hand what is happening with the Mexican swine, while Cordova can keep a wary eye on WHO?
