Europe this week warned against non-essential travel to Mexico and the United States due to swine flu concerns.
And why not? With a porous, almost non-existent border, the United States and Mexico are becoming indistinguishable from an epidemiological standpoint.
Consider: Tuberculosis cases have risen markedly over the years in U.S. border states with Mexico due to migration, both legal and illegal.
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report on "Preventing and Controlling Tuberculosis Along the U.S.-Mexico Border" says TB rates are higher on both sides of the border than they are in either country, as a whole, and that rates are highest in border counties than they are in their respective states.
The World Health Organization estimated a few years ago that Mexican rates of TB were 45 cases per 100,000 population, an alarming rate.
Much of the spread of TB comes from immigrants, both legal and illegal, from Mexico and Central America. "Persons from these countries contribute substantially to U.S. tuberculosis ... morbidity," the CDC says.
Globally, experts say the incidence of tuberculosis among migrant populations is five to six times higher than that in their destination countries.
So it should be no surprise that swine flu is spreading across America from Mexico, where it has already killed over 100 people. This is a story about migratory populations as much as it is about a particular disease.
Nor is it simply a matter of minor inconvenience. Schools are being closed, travelers are being warned and viewed with suspicion, and Homeland Security chief Janet Napolitano canceled an overseas trip to deal with the crisis.
In fact, the CDC has a "Division of Global Migration and Quarantine ... committed to reducing morbidity and mortality due to infectious diseases among immigrants, refugees, international travelers, and other mobile populations that cross international borders."
If only countries such as ours were more committed to controlling those borders.
Globalization and migration have been great forces for great good. Trade and intellectual and cultural exchanges have led to increased wealth for most of the world's populations. There is no going back, and there shouldn't be.
At the same time, transnational travel, migrant populations, bigger cities, language and cultural barriers and "microbial adaptation" have combined to spread disease and put the world on the cusp of pandemics involving such diseases as TB, bird flu and now swine flu.
George C. Fidas, an expert on migration and disease, has noted that, due to the movement of infected people and goods, U.S. infectious disease deaths have doubled since 1980.
There is only so much an already-strapped public health system can do. Migration simply must be more controlled, orderly and secure.
That may not be very politically correct, but it sure makes sense epidemiologically.
Comments
In the real world (no election year rhetoric), Bush made two major mistakes while in office. Both were obviously intentional. 1) allowing the unbridled pork spending of congress and 2) encouraging the unbridled flow of Mexicans into the country. While I feel Bush did an overall excellent job during difficult times, these two mistakes will burden America for years to come.
Close the border!
It is impossible to seal the border with Mexico. And even if were possible along with stopping 90% or more of the international flights into and out of Mexico, it is too late to stop the spread of swine flu. Public health experts state it is too late to contain the outbreak. Steps are now underway to mitigate the effects. Even if the border were hermetically sealed it would not stop the spread of swine flu. It is already in the U.S., in Canada, and in Europe. Stopping all international travel and sealing all borders would not be effective in stopping or limiting the spread of this potential pandemic. The hope is that there are many more mild cases of the swine flu in Mexico that have gone undetected. More than 150 Mexicans have died but no one in this country or in Europe has died so far. That may be a good sign. Let's hope so. Getting all xenophobic and scapegoating innocent folks does nothing to help the situation. As usual the knee-jerk know-nothings are out in force.
Just one more right-wing failure. Who's surprised?
right-wing failure?
I am for solving the illegal alien problem, but come on... building the wall the conservatives are pining for is not going to stop swine flu from crossing into the US. The flu virus is known for its ability to climb walls. I swear. Google it.
Lets move the Capital and White House to southern New Mexico.
We need to close the border for more reasons than just swine flu.
Amen KSL, look at the strain they are already putting on a very weak economy. Go to Congress.org and DEMAND your elected officals do something. I write them regularly and give them pure hell. I got that right. They work for US!
And what is your solution Cyndi? If we are going to spend that money, I sure hope we can build walls better than we build levees.
I don't get paid for my solutions. That's what my tax money is for, to pay the people we put in office who are SUPPOSED to have our best interests at heart. But since you asked, my solution would be to step up the ICE raids and send as many back as quickly as possible. Then you hire AMERICANS to build whatever it is they were talking about buidling. Put extra border patrols all along the "wall". That wasn't too hard now was it? But no one in Washington can figure it out.
our tax money is wasted.. I mean look at the hooligans we are supporting!!
Yeah I know Lady, that's the part that makes me mad. I'm tired of having to go to the clinic in Clearwater because my pay doesn't allow me to afford my own insurance and my employer doesn't offer it, only to get there and have to sit with non-taxpayers who get free services, while I have to pay. Something wrong with this picture?
Bush let in all of the Mexicans! Gov. Perry of the Great State of Texas is begging for Swine Flu vaccine. I thought he was seceeding? You secede, then you get NO vaccine. God is blaming Texas for Bush, and thus unleashing the scourge of the Swine against the Texans. Phillipians 2:14-17, or is it Ramadan 5:32-36?
What if a Muslim contracts swine flu, will the family order an honor killing?
LOL mgroothand. Dems won't get that one. (the word honor makes them mad)
True Southern08, I'm college educated and do quite well; but when I get on these forums I just change. Maybe I'm a closet Repugnican. These posts are mostly idiotic, so I am just playing right along. It's my 15 minutes of fun for the day.
I guess there will not be any Principals kissing a pig to raise money for their schools in the near future. If a Principal would do that now then we really should contribute. Say $50 to kiss the pig, $100 for a hug and a kiss, and $1,000 to French kiss the pig. Now there's an opportunity for some Principal to raise some money in these tough economic times!
While I think Cain is right to some degree that it is too late to "seal" the unsealable border, I do think increased travel restictions certainly would slow the spread. Shivas, please stop making stupid comments trying to politicize everything. I think Obama is doing a fine job in dealing with this and I didn't even vote for him. Your hatred of anyone who disagrees with you is glaringly apparent.
Cynick thats why I think we should all get free health care.I also say build the wall and inforce the laws.If our government would stop the bailouts,the stimulis plains and free loading off tax payers.Make people work.That would stop the illeguls from wonting to come here.No job why more?
That's what I say Tots, why should AMERICAN taxpayers have to do without health care while supporting non taxpayers? Doesn't it make more sense to keep the ones paying those taxes healthy instead of a bunch of freeloaders who only take from the system. When my mother came here from Slovenia in 1956, she and her family came from an Italian refugee camp after 5 long years there. They were processed at Ellis Island and my aunt, who married an American GI, sponsored them. Back then, you didn't get welfare. You had to have someone here to take care of you till you could get on your feet. Not anymore.
Now why would I admit anything to a Southern Guy? By the way, soon the South will be the only place where I can go to visit a true Republican. And after 2012, the only place might be in a local jail.
LOL...it's gonna be a hoot !!! (remember those words?)
Senator Spector is bolting the GOP, who will be next?
I see that Hussien is still getting praise-even though he says that this swine flu thing is nothing to worry about.While CDC is concerned that this could turn into massive deaths,Hussien is buzzing NY and saying all is well.
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