Watch Out, You Swine!
I have to admit, the only reason I am blogging about Swine Flu is because of the warning diagram published by Japan’s Health and Labour Ministry.
At first glance, it seems to have been re-purposed from the “Don’t get close to drunk guys” warning posters. But on closer inspection, those spewed dots may be from the “Foreigners shouldn’t eat natto“ series!
Currently the mood in Tokyo is a little bipolar. On the one hand, all drug stores have sold out of their supply of face masks. On the other hand, no more people than usual are wearing masks on the subways, and people continue to congregate in large numbers. Admittedly in Tokyo, the only way to avoid congregating in large numbers is by being really smelly, or staying at home!
All seems calm, perhaps just before the storm?
Last night the TV news was talking very seriously (and repetitively) about girls with swine flu in Kawasaki (literally the Edge of the River, just before Tokyo). They had just come back from the Mock UN, and as if to underscore the international nature of this problem, they brought Swine Flu back with them!
Recently I have been dealing with this by wearing a stylish white mask and carrying antibactierial gel wherever I go. I’m not sure if this will help once good old H1N1 Influenza 09 is out there in force, but you have to give it a go.
Ultimately, I feel it’s a matter of when, not if Tokyo will be beseiged by Swine Flu. And once the pig is out of the bag, I wonder how much life in Tokyo will change???
word.
its only a matter of time before Tokyo
just freaks out and panics.
m2c
May 22nd, 2009