Swine Flu

China has taken the Swine Flu seriously. Perhaps for no reason, perhaps for good reason, perhaps to make amends for poor performance the SARS outbreak, China is taking the H1N1 Flu far more seriously than the United States.

Our screening began on arrival at Beijing airport. Before disembarking, several individuals in white coats raced down the aisles beaming each and every passenger with a little laser-like thermometers. Without touching an individual, they can aim it at his or her forehead and get a temperature reading. Any passenger with above-normal temperature is grounds for suscpicion and likely to be quarantined. Most famously, the mayor of New Orleans (like all of the other passengers on the flight) was quarantined in his Shanghai hotel for three days due to one suspected passenger.

For seven days, our Chinese group leaders took our temperatures and recorded our health data. We were also forbidden from eating at the same times as other students until the full week had passed. Fortunately for the group, everyone was healthy for the duration.