Swine flu in Puerto Vallarta By Jesús de Avila • May 2009
Three days… that’s all it took to change the world context. Today, in nearly every family, in every corner, priorities have changed - at least for the next few weeks, if not months. The flu epidemic has generated a state of emergency wherein the entire planet is involved. And more than what this flu represents as a viral attack (although curable), its most impressive facet is the speed and severity with which it is transmitted, and even more serious, it is as if a “virus” —and that which spreads around it— has practically held back or paralyzed the planet’s advance. Mexico City alone, with its more than 20 million inhabitants, sometimes looks like a huge ghost town – according to some international reporters.
The ironic aspect of it is that with all the technological progress and despite all our achievements as humankind, a microscopic virus has proved us to be the most vulnerable of all beings – in a matter of hours. According to the information we are receiving, without exaggeration, no one is contagion-proof, and we must all take the preventive measures that are recommended and broadcast on all the international media.
We should also mention that on TV and the internet, those highly prestigious media, suspicion has surfaced ―based on very peculiar events― that perhaps all this could be a well thought up and executed strategy to distract the masses while a few take advantage of the opportunity to gain more power and/or money. Nevertheless, regardless of whatever the truth may be, the priority is to maintain the calm and watch for the health of our communities; the rest “though it may not”, must wait.
During a conversation with our collaborators, in addition to urging them to stay alert, we suggested that they observe the situation as objectively as possible, given the circumstances, and thus describe how this is a moment as critical as it is special. Critical because the emergency is real and we cannot plug the dike with a finger; it is happening at the least appropriate moment, aggravating a situation that was already difficult for our beautiful town’s tourism industry. And special because, as I mentioned above, it detains us long enough to reflect, deeply, and realize that regardless of who we are, or what we know, have or do, “we do not, nor will we ever have, control over any situation”. Learning and accepting this is what shows us to be vulnerable before the world and before God. Best of all, it allows us to see that what happens around what we are facing is the consequence of our past decision. And notwithstanding what will prove to be the truth in the end, only God has the power to help us.
Although it has been scientifically proven that there are more deaths caused by the common flu worldwide than those caused or that could be caused by this strain, we must acknowledge that the storm brought on by this new virus is dark and intense – but it too shall pass. We do not know exactly how it will end, but we are sure that in the end, human beings will realize more clearly that we all form part of “a single race”, interconnected, and thus are affected —negatively or positively— by what the other does, decides, or experiences.
This is a magnificent moment to readjust our priorities; instead of thinking about how our business will go ―good or bad― if we follow or not the preventive measures which are recommended to us (as some business people are thinking at this time, unfortunately), it is time to act genuinely, caring for the well-being of others. In the end, we are all human beings created by the hand of God in the belly of our mothers, and brought to life with the same privileges, also granted by Him. Today, the most important isn’t our town or how others see it, the transcendent aspect is how each one of us who visits or lives in this privileged place, is.
As I write these lines, I recall reading that in the middle of heavy bombing by German planes, Winston Churchill —considered by many as one of the most influential leaders in history— called upon the British people to pray to God to stop the bombing. Following his decision, we should acknowledge that the only One in absolute control “of everything”… is God, while the authorities and specialists in each country work overtime to control, detain and abolish this flu, as we take the preventive measures necessary to help. We should kneel before His Great Power, pray and resort to Him, asking for His compassion, His wisdom and our sanity, to emerge victorious from and strengthened by this situation.
Some books and chronicles on World War II state that, on that occasion in Great Britain, God heard the voice of the people and, inexplicably, the bombing stopped. I believe that God can also stop the spread of this flu, restore us and allow us to get back to our everyday lives… Let us pray.
N.B.: To this day, April 30th, 2009, in Puerto Vallarta and throughout our State of Jalisco and the neighboring State of Nayarit, not a single case of the “swine” flu has been confirmed. Nonetheless, we are still taking all necessary precautionary measures.
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The ironic aspect of it is that with all the technological progress and despite all our achievements as humankind, a microscopic virus has proved us to be the most vulnerable of all beings – in a matter of hours. According to the information we are receiving, without exaggeration, no one is contagion-proof, and we must all take the preventive measures that are recommended and broadcast on all the international media.
Although it has been scientifically proven that there are more deaths caused by the common flu worldwide than those caused or that could be caused by this strain, we must acknowledge that the storm brought on by this new virus is dark and intense – but it too shall pass. We do not know exactly how it will end, but we are sure that in the end, human beings will realize more clearly that we all form part of “a single race”, interconnected, and thus are affected —negatively or positively— by what the other does, decides, or experiences.
As I write these lines, I recall reading that in the middle of heavy bombing by German planes, Winston Churchill —considered by many as one of the most influential leaders in history— called upon the British people to pray to God to stop the bombing. Following his decision, we should acknowledge that the only One in absolute control “of everything”… is God, while the authorities and specialists in each country work overtime to control, detain and abolish this flu, as we take the preventive measures necessary to help. We should kneel before His Great Power, pray and resort to Him, asking for His compassion, His wisdom and our sanity, to emerge victorious from and strengthened by this situation.