H1N1 pandemic rate dropping

In Volume 49 of Technology Business Review we reported that
the emergence of swine flu, now popularly known as H1N1,
has led to a significant drop in airline passenger traffic and freight traffic.
This decimated the companies’ bottom line as people stayed away
from crowded airports and commercial airplanes.
Now Technology Business Review brings new updates on the impact
of the pandemic on the world, new H1N1 cases and the race to develop a vaccine.

Airline passengers arriving in Argentina wearing masks.
Worldwide public and private sector cooperation has resulted
in a decrease in the rate of H1N1-related deaths.

Ever since the H1N1 epidemic exploded onto the world's stage in April 2009, the spread of the infectious disease is still being tracked. According to the World Health Organisation, more than 170 countries have reported a total of 329,976 cases, with 3644 of those having resulted in deaths as of the 10th of September. In Malaysia 73 fatalities were recorded as of the 1st of September, and as of the 10th, 1,198 patients displaying influenza like symptoms have been admitted to local hospitals with no further deaths. A health emergency has been declared by the Malaysian government and it is seriously considering a health curfew similar to the one imposed by Mexico. Beyond Malaysia, the virus has also struck its first presidential victim when Costa Rica’s President, Oscar Arias, was diagnosed with the disease on the 11th of August.

However, airlines and airports collectively have suffered less losses in the month of June in relation to the month of May. According to Airports Council International (AIC), as of the 11th of August, airports around the world handled 5% less passengers in June this year compared to June of 2008. This is actually an improvement over the 8% drop recorded in May. International passenger traffic declined by 7.7% while domestic air travel within countries dropped 2.5% globally.

The tourism industry has been badly hit especially in countries where massive H1N1 outbreaks have been reported. India has seen its tourist arrivals drop by 15% for international arrivals and 40% for domestic travel especially from Bangalore to Pune, a place recently hit by an outbreak. China has seen some retrenchment among hotels there, with reduced salaries and prices of tour packages becoming the norm. Malaysia’s Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen, during a visit to China last month, expressed concerns regarding foreign tourists avoiding Malaysia due to media coverage of the country’s ongoing pandemic.

Hope is in the air though as the race for a vaccine intensifies around the world. The World Health Organisation announced that based on a global survey it carried out on the 15th of May, the very first doses of H1N1 vaccine will be available by September this year. According to the health body, 4.9 billion doses could potentially be produced in twelve months. Trials for the vaccine took place in China in late July, with further trials being launched in the US, Belgium, India, Thailand, Australia and Canada.

Travellers can breathe a sigh of relief as the trend of the pandemic is seeing a decrease despite new cases being reported every month. The efforts by governments, the mass media, airport management, health companies, and tourist operators are beginning to bear fruit as awareness of the disease has spread globally and continues to spread far and wide. Furthermore, ongoing and future trials of a H1N1 vaccine around the world are a sign that the pandemic is being taken seriously and will be dealt with in time.

Breakdown of people infected by H1N1 virus worldwide as of 10th September 2009