Concerns Regarding Flu: Health, Social, and Economic Perspectives

This essay comprehensively analyzes the multifaceted concerns surrounding influenza (flu) outbreaks, with a particular focus on the COVID-19 pandemic. It delves into the health concerns, highlighting the contagious nature of the flu, the severity of its symptoms, and the challenges posed by emerging viruses and the lack of immediate vaccinations. The essay explores the social and political concerns, including the socio-economic burdens, impacts on mortality rates, the role of media in disseminating information, and the importance of community-level responses. It also examines the economic consequences of flu outbreaks, such as reduced productivity, increased medical costs, and the redirection of economic resources towards healthcare. The analysis draws on historical examples, including the Asian flu, Hong Kong Flu, and Swine Flu, to provide a broader understanding of the global impact of pandemics and the importance of public health measures.

RUNNING HEAD: FLU CONCERN
Concerns Regarding Flu
Name of Student:
Name of University:
Author Note:

1FLU CONCERN
Introduction:
The emergence of any kind of flu or any infectious disease has always been one of the
alarming issues that influences the responses of the public to pandemics and in turn possess a
serious threat to the priority of health issues. The pandemics as well as the epidemics that the
world is witnessing since more than four decades including Ebola, SAARS, pandemic influenza
and the rise of various anti microbial organisms have been for long threatening the health of the
global population (Klepser, Michael). It has also been pointed out by the researchers that the re
emergence of such pandemics will in a near future mark the end of the flourishing and golden
age of modern medicine and will draw in a period where the health security of the individual will
be at stake by the resurgence of such infectious disease. In the present area, the spread of the
Corona Virus disease 2019 has again brought in the social and health concern of the people all
over the world. The highly contagious virus was first traced in Wuhan, China from where it has
been spread like a forest fire throughout the globe (Zhang, Yizhe, et al.). The purpose of the
research is to analyse the various aspects of concerns that occurs during the time of pandemic.
Keeping in mind the recent outburst of Corona virus, the research will primarily revolve round
this issue, however will take into considerations the past and the general social behaviours of
people around the globe during the time.
Overview of Flu:
The influenza or in general called as flu, is generally considered to be a seasonal disease
that causes problems in respiratory tracts and are highly contagious. With the passage of time
various new viruses are evolving that contributes to the rise of new kinds of flu. Since viruses in

2FLU CONCERN
recent times are new and unforeseen, it has made the condition more vulnerable and panic-
stricken for the societies, since the antidotes of many are not yet discovered. Documenting the
history of flu pandemic is a challenging task. However, the epidemiologists argue on the fact that
the 1580 influenza out break can be considered as the earliest example of the flu. The pandemic
at that time took part in Asia at the time of summer and then it spread to Europe and Africa. The
speed of the spread was so vast that within six months it marked its presence all over the
European countries and travelled to America. Though the actual death toll has not been
registered properly, the number of deaths in Rome alone was eight thousand.
The twentieth century world witnessed two flu pandemics. The first one was the Asian
flu that was caused by H2N2 virus that killed nearly 1.1 million people across the globe. The
second one was the 1968 Hong Kong Flu caused by H3N2 viruses. The twenty first century has
been witnessing the maximum number of flows that the history has ever witnessed. In 2009, a
new kind of virus marked its presence in North America and spread throughout the world. This
Swine Flu pandemic affected a vast area mainly the children and the young adults whose
immune system was not acquainted with the new virus (Karlsson, Martin, Therese Nilsson, and
Stefan Pichler.). People who were above 60 years of age were comparatively saved since their
body had already grown antibodies against the virus due to their prior exposure to H1N1 viruses.
Among the relatively less transmitted pandemics are Nipah viruses and Ebola. Though they took
a great toll on human life, the transmission rate was controlled which prevented the world from
mass Sufferings (Blaise, Didier, et al). The 2019-20 Corona virus outbreak is again a mass
pandemic that has been reported for the first time in 2019 at the city of Wuhan, China. At present
it has been considered as an ongoing public health emergency of Global proportion. Though,
initially there were no report of human to human transmission, at present, the notion has been

3FLU CONCERN
changed and as per the WHO report till 5th March 2020 the cases of Corona Virus Disease is nine
times higher than inside the city. Pandemics have always created behavioural and daily routine
changes in the life of people. More so in the case of Corona Virus, a drastic change and fear has
arised since there has been no vaccine or anti dot for this disease.
Health Concerns of Flu:
Flu is generally considered to be a highly contagious illness that posses problem to the
respiratory system caused by viruses that primarily affects nose, throat and in some cases the
lungs. Flu is generally considered dangerous as the severity can range from mild to serious
causing deaths (Stoffel, Carla). Moreover, there are no vaccinations discovered for most of the
flu that are emerging at present. Researchers are of opinion that the spread of flu occurs when
tiny droplets are firmed while an infected person talks, coughs and sneeze. The droplets end up
reaching to the hand, nose or other exposed areas of the body of the other person. Since Flu is
contagious, the droplets carrying traces of virus affects in turn the person who was completely
fit. This rate of contagiousness and risk of being affected has raised the health concerns against
flu. Moreover, there is no surety of the fact that the virus travelling from a person who has been
mildly affected by the virus will also affect the other person in the similar degree. Depending
upon the person’s previous health history, medication and immunity system, the intensity of the
illness may vary. It has been found by a report in US that flu affects an average of 80% of people
in the country (Springborn, Michael). Children and elderly people are most likely to get affected
by the viruses, though the virus can attack any people of any age range. Though this is a common
phenomenon and general flu does not possess much risk, highly contagious and more serious flu
are deadly since they can take the shape of pandemics if not restricted duly on time. The health

4FLU CONCERN
concerns are thus more in case of the present Covid 19 is at the peak. The disease has spread
over 120 countries and till now has taken the toll of 10,800 lives. Though initially it was though
that any kind of insect or bats are the main carreer of the viruses, the researchers turned down the
assumption. The transmission are occurring from one person to another with a serious high rate
that is making the world more panic stricken. After China, the main country that has been
affected is Italy. At present, with the aim of combating the disease and lowering the risks of
transmission of the viruses, social lock downs are being imposed upon the countries. Any people
with high fever and coughs are advised to consult doctors immediately. Keeping in mind the rate
of transmission and the risk factors associated with the disease the health concerns regarding the
flu is currently at peak and people are requested to maintain a social distancing. Since the main
carriers of the virus are the droplets from coughs or sneeze, special precautions are being taken
against these. The alarming condition of flu has created the urgency of setting up of the medical
infrastructures that will be used to treat only the infected people. The concerns regarding the
doctors and other medical staffs also becomes an important issue in the time of the spread of the
flu. In the case of COVID 19, special masks, suits and sanitising equipments are being provided
to them.
Social and Political Concerns:
Apart from the high health concern regarding the spread of the flu one of the major
concern that grope up the communities are the social concerns. The spread of flu poses a serious
socio economic burden upon the individuals (Kumar, Pratyush,). The flu can have major impacts
on the mortality rates of the communities and thereby affecting the population. The most
vulnerable group being affected by the flu are old people and children. The outbreak of Monkey

5FLU CONCERN
pox in US and the prevalent concern over the small pox vaccines as weapon resulted in a huge
scale of vaccination programs at that time. In combination with the increased amount of the
global issues including the political instabilities and turmoil, radical fundamentalism etc, there
had been huge social concerns among the communities to protect the civilian population from the
clutches of bio terrorism. In the time of various pandemics, the citizens of the countries are
requested to be socially responsible to create awareness against the spread of the flow. In cases,
where human are the main transmitters of the disease, social distancing and isolation has been
figured as one of the effective measures. The media and the social media play an essential role in
updating and educating the mass. However, in times of any pandemic, the news about the spread
of disease can also create confusion and panic. Moreover, the circulations of false news,
overhyped news are also part of the social effects. Researches show that most of the people has
been reported to be influenced by the news and dos and donts lists that the social media pages are
circulating. This often creates a scope for any particular group to increase their popularity or
profit. In cases of flu spread, it is generally advised that local responses be of more importance
rather than the national or the international responses. People of the community can better fix
and fit themselves according to their available resources and concerns (Almario, Christopher V.,
et al.). In the developing countries, the lack of education an social awareness result in more
spread of flu. People who are not wholly aware of the impacts often are found to be neglecting
checkups or not obeying the rule of self isolation. The chances of spread of disease are more in
developing countries. COVID 19, however has been most present in Italy, just after China. Italy,
though being a developed nation, initially neglected the seriousness of the issue, which is now
taking a toll of three thousands life (Jarrell, Bruce E. "). At present, Italy and various other
countries are experiencing complete lock downs and total self-isolations. Social communications

6FLU CONCERN
get hampered during the time of flu. During the time of the Mexican flu, all airports were sealed
in order to prevent the transmission of flu. Knowledge of how to communicate with public in the
best possible way and how they pick up those messages are still an emerging area of study. The
evaluations of the responses about the public health that can be found in the public health
response to the 2009 10 pandemics claims that public communication to a great extent is
successful in re assuring the people in the time of emergencies. The social issues also concern
the education level of the people living in he community. While there are tendencies of some to
spread panic and unnecessary regulations and restrictions causing problems to the other people in
the community, there are others as well who seems to have less idea about the transmitting rates
or severity and tends to defy the guidelines.
Economic Concern:
The economy of an area and the economic condition of the people suffering gets mostly affected
as a result of any prevalent flu. The social isolation causes a huge amount of loss of productivity
since people are unable to go out as they are infected,. The illness, the physical instability and the
weakness also affects the production negatively. Another major issue regarding the economic
concern is that most of the economy at the time of the spread of the flu are directed towards the
medical costs. the charge of treating the illness including the variety of tests and the doctor’s fees
creates loss to the individual. For the nation, if the flu starts taking the shape of spreading at a
high rate, the concerns regarding the checkups, the setting up of separate medical infrastructures
and units are also liable to economic concerns (Atlani-Duault, Laëtitia, et al.). The rate of
business or any international agendas remained close as the people generally avoid visiting the
land because of the contagious nature of the flu. This also cause economic setbacks. Death as a

7FLU CONCERN
result of the flu is another cause of the economic concern. The death of an earning member in the
family is an economic crisis for a unit of family while it also means loss of one earning citizen
who contributes to the shaping of GDP. In the developing countries there are not enough
economical resources to make separate structures for treating the flu infected patient
(Klembczyk, Joseph Jeffrey, et al.). If the flu in these regions turns to become a pandemic, there
will be no provision of admitting and treating a large mass. Morever, government then, has to
spend money for the strengthening of the medical structure and providing medicines and medical
helps to the lower strata of the society which will also curb down the amount of capital required
in industry.
Role of Government:
The government of the country is required to play the most crucial role in the time of a
flu spread. In cases where the spread of the flu is seen in a mass extent, the government needs to
provide aids and amenities for the population. The government also needs to make some
regulations as a process of securing the means of prevention against the flu. In the developing
countries particularly, the government needs to enhance the infrastructure of the hospitals so that
more patients can be admitted and accommodated and given treatments.. Safety measures for the
doctors and the medical staffs must also be provided by the government. AS a precautionary
measure for restricting the transmission of flu, the international flights can be ordered to cancels
and people coming from other tests can be examined medically. Considering the seriousness f
the pandemic, the government can also call for a total lock down as in the case of china and Italy.

8FLU CONCERN
Conclusion:
In conclusion it can be said that, since human are still vulnerable in the hands of various bio
terrorism and the impacts of nature upon them, most of the flu like diseases still do not have any
proper vaccination or cure. In order to lower down the risks it is commendable that people of the
community are given compulsory vaccinations against those whose vaccines have already been
invented, For those unforeseen disease which are not yet known, awareness and social education
can be give to the people of the communities.

9FLU CONCERN
Reference List:
Almario, Christopher V., et al. "Persistent racial and ethnic disparities in flu vaccination
coverage: results from a population-based study." American journal of infection control 44.9
(2016): 1004-1009.
Atlani-Duault, Laëtitia, et al. "Tracking online heroisation and blame in epidemics." The Lancet
Public Health (2020)
Blaise, Didier, et al. "Randomized study of 2 reduced‐intensity conditioning strategies for human
leukocyte antigen‐matched, related allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation:
prospective clinical and socioeconomic evaluation." Cancer 119.3 (2013): 602-611.
Jarrell, Bruce E. "Coronavirus Concerns." (2020).
Karlsson, Martin, Therese Nilsson, and Stefan Pichler. "The impact of the 1918 Spanish flu
epidemic on economic performance in Sweden: An investigation into the consequences of an
extraordinary mortality shock." Journal of health economics 36 (2014): 1-19.
Klembczyk, Joseph Jeffrey, et al. "Google flu trends spatial variability validated against
emergency department influenza-related visits." Journal of medical Internet research 18.6
(2016): e175.
Klepser, Michael E. "Socioeconomic impact of seasonal (epidemic) influenza and the role of
over-the-counter medicines." Drugs 74.13 (2014): 1467-1479.

10FLU CONCERN
Kumar, Pratyush, et al. "Socioeconomic impact of the recent outbreak of H1N1." Current
Medicine Research and Practice 5.4 (2015): 163-167.
Springborn, Michael, et al. "Accounting for behavioral responses during a flu epidemic using
home television viewing." BMC infectious diseases 15.1 (2015): 21.
Stoffel, Carla, et al. "The ongoing crises in China illustrate that the assessment of epidemics in
isolation is no longer sufficient." Transboundary and Emerging Diseases (2020).
Zhang, Yizhe, et al. "Wastewater-based epidemiology in Beijing, China: Prevalence of antibiotic
use in flu season and association of pharmaceuticals and personal care products with
socioeconomic characteristics." Environment international 125 (2019): 152-160