· May, 2009

Stories about Health from May, 2009

China: Blogged down with swine flu

  8 May 2009

Kai Pan at CNReviews traces how China, despite having so far kept H1N1 from reaching the mainland, has still managed to end up at the center of a number of blog posts regarding the epidemic.

Guyana: Advertising Issue

  8 May 2009

The new Banks beer commercials in Guyana have blogger Imran Khan incensed: “What does it say about a company which foists upon a nation an advertisement lecturing to the citizenry that we should all guzzle alcoholic beverages because it builds the nation?”

USA: Opening Conversations on Sexual and Reproductive Health

  7 May 2009

Planned Parenthood, a non-profit organization that provides free or inexpensive sexual health services to young men and women in the United States and abroad, has launched a YouTube campaign. The organization is encouraging people to share their thoughts and experiences around getting tested for sexually transmitted diseases, educating their kids about sex, and discussing reproductive rights issues.

Southeast Asia: Twitter reactions on H1N1 virus

  7 May 2009

In the previous post, I featured the reactions of Southeast Asian bloggers on the H1N1 virus. This time, I will highlight the twitter reactions from twitterers in the region. Twitter posts are alternative sources of information and news updates about the virus scare. They also help us figure out the sentiments and knowledge of ordinary citizens about the H1N1.

Mexico: Scenes From an Outbreak

  6 May 2009

Almost two weeks after the outbreak of the H1N1 virus, Mexico City was declared in “state of emergency” suspending activities at closed populated spaces, such as schools, workplaces and restaurants, as well as large public events, such as concerts and football matches. Most residents wore protective face masks and their interactions with one another helped paint a unique and devastating landscape of the streets of Mexico.

Japan: Doctor shortage, the medical system in crisis

  6 May 2009

Together with the economic crisis the shortage of doctors (医師不足, ishi busoku in Japanese) is becoming more and more urgent in Japan. As a Fire and Disaster Management Agency survey pointed out in 2007, the causes are the uneven distribution of the doctors mainly settled in urban areas and the...

Morocco: Taking Care of Animals

The American Fondouk is an animal hospital in Fez, Morocco that was founded in the 1920s and is funded through the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA). The hospital, which provides care for animals large and small, is staffed primarily by Moroccan veterinarians and staff members, however, it recently came up in the blogosphere due to the blogging efforts of a visiting veterinarian, Dr. Dan Biros of Boston. Dr. Biros, who specializes in opthamology for animals, has been chronicling his work at the Fondouk in an official blog.

China: Quarantine measures crucial

  5 May 2009

With Mexicans, Canadians and now Americans in quarantine in China, anonymous Awakening China blogger takes on the perception that Chinese health authorities have gone overboard in attempting to keep H1N1 from entering the country; numbers but no links are given to illustrate majority online sentiment regarding the measures taken.

Southeast Asia: Reactions to the H1N1 virus

  4 May 2009

Early this year, I wrote about the virus scare which swept the Southeast Asian region. Rising cases of dengue fever, chikungunya, bird flu and ebola viruses were registered in many countries in the region. There is another threat in the region: H1N1 virus (formerly known as “swine flu”)

Americas: Region Responds to the H1N1 Virus

  4 May 2009

Even though the epicenter of the H1N1 virus outbreak has been in Mexico, other countries in the region are finding ways to prevent and combat it. Bloggers have been keen on taking a close look at what their governments are doing to alleviate fears, or whether they are responsible for adding to the panic by some. Others Latin American bloggers are observing the behavior of their fellow citizens, often using humor to cut through some of the tension.

Trinidad & Tobago: Empower OSHA

  4 May 2009

“The Government has pumped millions into the construction of skyscrapers and mega-projects all over Trinidad and Tobago, but it appears to have fallen short when it comes to properly funding OSHA (the Occupational Health and Safety Act)”: Tattoo says that the government's failure to act on construction workers’ deaths “risk[s]...

China: Pharmaceutical company PSA

  4 May 2009

Chris Waugh at bezdomny ex patria has translated an advertorial from a company boasting “capacity for large-scale production of swine flu vaccine”. Vaccine confidence, Waugh wonders, or over-confidence?

China: Quarantining all Mexicans

  3 May 2009

If the virus spreads to our country, will Western politicians come help us then? Pay them no attention. Putting a temporary halt to flights was the correct thing to do. The government has done an extremely good job this time, and I support them wholeheartedly.

Egypt: Combating H1N1 with pigs culling

While the world is busy trying to figure out a way for necessarily precautions to stop swine flu or H1N1 from spreading, the Egyptian government decided to take one more step forward and cull all pigs in the country. Since then bloggers, as well as mainstream media, have been engaged in a long debate whether this is a wise decision, or whether the crisis should have been managed in a better way.

World Videos: “Swine Flu” Perspectives, Humor and a Grain of Salt.

  1 May 2009

Videos tend to reflect people's states of mind at a set moment in time. People react different ways in the face of crisis, and for all those who have been reading, viewing and absorbing information on the "Swine Flu" (properly known as Influenza A virus subtype H1N1), it might get complicated not only to sort out factual information from rumors, but also to deal with the new restrictions and recommendations. Some find a way to share their state of mind through videos, and this is what I bring to you today: thought provoking, skeptical, musically inclined, creative and humorous videos.

About our Health coverage

Juhie Bhatia
Juhie Bhatia is the Global Health editor. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.