Yes. You read correctly. In an effort to combat the ever-spreading, over-hyped, barely-lethal Swine Flu, Ukraine has decided to close their schools. Not just a certain block of them, every single school. Every single one. Prompting me to wonder, where was Swine Flu when I needed it?
This is the sort of situation that spawns future world leaders. I’m just imagining a panicked Ukrainian student who has a major project due, and the relief on his face when his mother comes in and tells him that the swine flu has shut down his school. Then his worry, when he is concerned about classmates, all ill from the swine flu. Then his mother tells him that only 40 people in the entire country have died of swine flu, and he is greatly assuaged. Then confused, at the management of his government. His mother agrees to give him extra tutoring, and he grows up to be KING OF UKRAINIA.
But in seriousness, it’s not just the schools that have been shut down by the government. Also, cinemas, food markets, and nightclubs in the western part of the country.
“But mama, why is it that we cannot get food to eat today?”
“Because, sweetie. The pigs cough on us. Let’s hope it’ll end soon.”
This is how zombie movies start. And I wouldn’t be surprised if someone is pitching that RIGHT NOW.
Kind of makes sense. The swine flu is especially dangerous to the young (students), and by nature pandemics spread fast. And, of course, a school (being full of young and susceptible students) would be the perfect location of an outbreak. Now, in most places in the world, this sort of action would make little sense. But couple in Ukraine’s poverty, and, perhaps, an inefficient government (unable to efficiently target or contain an outbreak), and this starts to make a little more sense.
Still, shutting down businesses during a recession is almost never a good idea.
I think its a smart move. The flu they are experiencing is not identified. The death rate is higher. Many of the dead have lungs soaked in blood. Birds are dropping out of the sky. This does not seem like the swine flu as we have seen it in the past.Perhaps a mutation. Whatever it is, I think the Ukraine is acting properly and my heart & prayers go out to this country.