Swine Flu: 'No reason' to cancel Isle of MTV concert

Exactly my point, George Attard...and while we're at it, why don't we close down our national airline, all hotels, offices, shops, in fact why not shut down the whole country all together and hide ourselves in bunkers??? ;-))

Honestly people, let the show go on for those who want to enjoy it. After all, thousands of Maltese visit Mater Dei every day, a place where illness & disease is most rampant, & no one bats an eyelid

I didn't see anyone walking around fearfully at the Wine Festival this wkend (& it was PACKED) & i'm sure the same happy & fun atmosphere will prevail tonite, L. Borg

Enjoy the show & stay home only if you feel sick!!!

PANIC - Malta style. It is a hobby for some Maltese to panic and create panic.

The Health Authorities have not yet rebutted to my earlier comments:
Tamiflu does not give permanent protection against swine flu. The more it is used the higher the risk that the virus becomes resistant to it and then, since most people have NO immunity against the virus, then without effective Tamiflu, the consequence is too ugly to contemplate. This is the reason why the use of Tamiflu has to be kept to a minimum - and therefore why the spread of the virus has to be minimised. Let's follow Mexico's initial reaction which actually managed to reduce the spread of the virus.

and the WHO raised the scale to 6 for nothing according to some bloggers can you have an idea what the cost the country is running in cause of the flu? we are like il mozz ta bendu just cause spain continued with its u2 concert we do the same.this is a crowded event.and basta the virus spreads quickly.the health authorities are not practising what they preach at one time we tell the ppl to avoid crowded places and the next thing we say its ok??????????.but now its too late to cancel event lets hope for the best.

if you're going to cancel the MTV concert, cancel Sunday and daily mass, public transport, close cinemas, band clubs and feasts........come on people wake up and don't be so idiotic in your suggestions!! cancelling events is NOT going to prevent the spread of the flu so just live with it carry on living people!!

lighten up!!

I fully disagree that Isle of MTV concert should be held. It's typically maltese, we first look at the money that we'll be gaining rather than the risks which a huge concert like isle of mtv which is marketed outside malta, can have.

I am really disappointed with this decision, now that the cases of A H1 N1 are 24.

@ Adrian Cardona

Panic?
What's wrong with doing one's best (hygiene & avoiding crowds) as a preventive measure so as not to fall ill?

Sounds like common sense, not panic, to me!

just cancel the concert....

what fun is it anyway ?? ur there in the crowds and thinking about the virus??!!!
we'd better be more serious....expecially in airports...

'There is no public health reason to cancel mass events like next Wednesday's Isle of MTV concert, the Director-General of Health, Ray Busuttil, has said.'

Truely, I do not believe that the DG of Health really said this, when we were told to stay away from crowds by the Health Department itself !!!!!!!!!!!!! Sheer contradiction!!!!!!!!!!!

If the above statement is true, then, I do not agree with the DG. At least, he should have kept out of it. We care.

The authorities should be responsible enough as to put off the Isle of MTV concert. It is not fair on everybody. If it's still on, strongheaded youngsters attend this concert and mix up with foreigners and other Maltese, with the result, that if local transmission is on, definitely, some, rather, many will acquire the A H1N1 virus......... They will be returning to their homes, infecting their families.............and the pandemic blasts........ Authorities, please note.

Another reported comment which contradicts this argument can be found in the article "First locally-transmitted cluster of swine flu in Gozo" published in the Times of Malta on Tuesday, 7th July 2009:

"The four patients are understood to have been celebrating together during the village festa last week"

Full article here: http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090707/local/first-locally-transmitted-cluster-of-swine-flu-in-gozo

Are we still that sure that "there is no public health reason to cancel mass events" like this...?

Yes R Vella - unless the case is complicated, one who is infected should quarantine himself at home and not at Mater Dei.
Lot of fuss over nothing. Only in Malta.

exactly S. Anastasi, that was my point in the first place :)

i think face masks should be the answer for those concerned and not cancellation of such event. it's no use panicking we meet people everywhere.. you need only one infected person for the virus to get transmitted and not thousands..

The media is to blame for all this fuss about this particular flu - it's just the topic of the moment. If one had to stop & think for just a moment how many people are dying all over the world - not with swine flu - maybe one could go on with one's life and try to make the world a better place by not worrying how and when one's time is up to pass over to a better place! Enjoy MTV or whatever...........

Some Points:

1) @Joseph Agius
As far as I know WORLDWIDE, the infected people are cured at home and only the seriously ill people are taken to hospital. So I can't understand your argument.

2) The seasonal flu kills more people than swine flu. So why are you panicking?

3) And this is for real: I was in Mexico / Miami exactly when the outbreak was official. CNN was saying USA will not allow flights coming from Mexico. Watching the news was like assisting the end of the world. My flight was 2 days later this news. Swine flu kept increasing in the mean time. You know then what happened?? THERE WAS NO CONTROL IN NO AIRPORT, INCLUDING HEATHROW. When I returned to Malta, they simply told me that if you feel any symptoms, just call the doctor. Same advise given worldwide!

My point is, capitalism rules the world, they say one thing, but eventually money talks.

I think right now is more safe to go concerts rather than travelling, since recently planes are landing in the sea or turning back for safety reasons .

People seem to enjoy panicking , this is just another type of Influenza virus no more dangerous than the ones we get in Malta every winter.

so ok let s do this concert d isle f MTV,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,ok the people attending might all be mature enough to abide by the famous hygiene measures at least........................but then these people go back home and meet little children ............and then we all know how the story goes....children dont know the importance of hygiene and so what will happen ? i have no doubt that we ll know the story over this weekend......................

Be informed people instead of all this uncalled for panic!!! If you don't want to go to the concert, then just stay home & watch it when they air it on tv...but let the show go on for those who want to go.....with, as mentioned below, the benefits of less traffic, more parking & less people around, which will further decrease the chances of H1N1 being contracted ;-)) Just take your vitamins everyone and get on with life. With your reasoning, tistghu toqoghdu go bozza cause there are far worse killers in every day life!!! Btw Mr Joseph Agius, it was reported that only 5% of cases in each country need to be hospitalised so yes, staying home IS the best option. In fact it would be extremely selfish of someone who is sick to go to a clinic or hospital & pass on the flu to all the patients - after all, that is where the biggest danger lies cos the few people who have died are ones with other medical problems & most of these would actually be in a hospital!!!

@Mark Seychell Lets say that maybe, just maybe, this one person that gets infected is you or some relative of yours and lets say for the sake of argument, that this person dies with swine flu...........What do you say now??? Of course it is worth not staging such a concert EVEN FOR JUST ONE LIFE - LIFE IS SO PRECIOUS :) In my opinion the Isle of MTV concert should be put off.

On a lighter note… This flu it’s making me mad! My partner stopped french kissing me and reduced sex to nearly nothing! At least an old man like me have the isle of MTV, an occasion to sneak for some sexy girls Maltese and foreigners! :)

Joseph Agius, are you perchance one of those hypocondriacs who have a passion for going to hospital whenever they catch a cold or stub their toe?

I'm asking because I usually stay at home to enjoy a few days of sick leave when I catch the flu. I'm planning to do the same when I'll catch this flu, the next one and the one after that too - regardless of it being named H1N1, H2N5 or whatever.

I see nothing wrong with the way that the authorities are handling this matter.

No problem at all, Mr Mario Galea serhilna mohhna li preparati ahna l Maltin ghaliha din il pandemija. Infact some of Swine Flu cases are being treated at their own home, what a service.

@ Ramon Zammit! -- naqbel mieghek perefettament.

Issa jsir l-Isle of MTV, imoru xi 2 jew 3 infettati namlu mod.. imarrdu xi skoss nies! imbghad noqoghdu nibku u nqajjmu l-alarm ghax bdew il-kaiz ta Swine Lfu li bdew minn Malta u li zdiedu b'mod allarmanti!!! ! HELLO AUTHORITIES hawn pandemija ta influwenza ghaddejja ta mhux cajta.. veru li nistghu nikkurawha ima xorta.. .mard pruva naqqsu u mhux zidu!!!!! . U mux dik il-helwa l-ewwel jighu jghidulna li bhala prekawzjoni biex kemm jista jkun nevitaw noqoghdu f'follol ta nies u mbaghad jigu jghidulek li ''no reason to cancel isle of MTV" iddecidu!!!!!!

ma nafx jien xejn sew.com

Lets say that maybe, just maybe, one person gets infected and lets say for the sake of argument, this person dies with swine flu. Is staging such a concert worth even such a slight risk?

I have read on the internet that Tamiflu does not give you immunity to the swine fever virus, but only gives you 7 - 10 days protection from it. Additionally, the more Tamiflu is used, the less effective it becomes at destroying the virus -- hence the reason why Tamiflu has to be used only when there is high risk of being infected and not in vain.

Can the Maltese health authorities please confirm or rebut the above?

If the above is correct, I feel that public events such as the MTV concert should be cancelled. Spain and other countries may have opted to allow events which greatly speed up and enhance the spread of the disease, but it does not mean that Malta has to do the same. We need to slow down the spread as much as possible, we need to buy time until a vaccine is made available.

I think that there is a lot of panic about this issue, especially knowing from statistics that this flu is not a killer flu and mortality rates are comparable (if not less) than those of a normal influenza. By the way long time ago the WHO changed its name, and it is no longer known as swine flu but simply H1N1. Do not blame the pigs please, because the virus is a hybrid even with an avian virus. Also there is no way to hold the virus, even by introducing cameras at airports. Also regarding this issue I think that cameras if introduced should be installed at the departure airport and not at arrivals, after someone already infected others during the flight. Still I see that this is not so much important since asymptomatic individuals might become symptomatic and infectious while in the country. Also it is non sense to cancel all gatherings for something that is not more risky than the annual flu. FOr all those who do not like to risk and are afraid to die, just look at the statistics......after you do so probably you will not walk on the street anymore.....also the house is risky.

Is there anyone who as a ticket for Calleja/Bolton and is afraid to attend because of the flu? Do you want to sell it at half price pls instead of wasting it?

Whatever is done, it is going to spread anyway since Malta is a densily populated place.
Very well said Adrian Cardona, I agree 100%. Qatta ghoggieba. I'm sure that in no time we'll be seeing people going out with a mask.

Malvin Debono
Well wine has alcohol does it, so the virus will be killed.

As for those who do not want the concert canceled, it is just because there is money involved.
The virus may not be a general killer although there were some who died, but expect an explosion of cases within the next fortnight. Even though it is not a general killer, the amount of production lost will continue to exacerbate our dire financial situation.

It is inconsistent to say the least to warn people to stay away from crowds and if they feel any symptoms not to go to hospital and then allow such a crowd puller to go ahead.
Spain and England are the perfect where concerts were not canceled and they had an explosion in flu cases

There seems to be too much anxiety on this issue--though understandably so, given that swine flu has just struck in Malta. However please keep everything within perspective. I live in Manhattan where the population is just under 2 million. If you count in all the NY boroughs, NYC has over 8 million people packed in a relatively small area. Only yesterday I watched the July 4th fireworks on the west side Highway on the Hudson river downtown. The Highway was closed and turned into a "park" where 1000s of New Yorkers and others visiting the city congregated, picnicking while waiting for the event. Going back home on the subway, trains were jam-packed with people. This is not unusual for New York City: overcrowded trains and buses is the norm. When swine flu struck the City there was understandable anxiety at first but people learnt how to live with it and take reasonable precautions. Overinflated anxiety does no good to anyone. One cannot close a metropolis or an entire country. One has to learn how to beat such situations with common sense and good measure. I hope this helps put things in perspective in some way.

Reminds me of the film "JAWS", when the police chief of Amity Island, a fictional summer resort town, tries to protect beachgoers from a giant great white shark by closing the beach, only to be overruled by the town council, which wants the beach to remain open to draw a profit from tourists during the summer season.......

Well done Mavies Rugier you tell them my girl, people shouldn't dictate as to what to do and not do, its entirely their problem however as Mavies says keep away from me and the family, i'll endorse that. So go ahead my friends be a hero and follow your instincts., enjoy yourselves and have a knees up while u're at it, it might be your last.

The official WHO figures put the mortality rate of this virus at less than 0.5%. That' less than one in 500! And God knows how many other persons have been infected and recovered from the disease without even having themselves tested for it. It's safe to say that the effects of this virus are comparable to those of seasonal influenza, and could even be milder than that.

The WHO has directed all governments to stop trying to contain the virus from spreading because it is unstoppable, and instead concentrate on providing the cure for it. That is exactly what Dr. Busuttil is doing.

Finally, I assume that all the scaremongers below will be staying inside under lock and key between November and February, when seasonal influenza kicks in (just in case the vaccine doesn't work).

@ Adrian Cardona.

Couldn't agree with you more.

The statistics, which are on the WHO site (World Health Organisation, not the rock group!), should anybody takethe time to access the site (or any other health authority site) stated 2 days ago that only 332 people wordlwide have succumbed to swine flu, and this, due to underlying health problems. Annual deaths attributed to seasonal influenza however, are listed as being between 250,000 and 500,000. So why all the fuss about what is just a different strain of influenza? Let it pass through, and we'll get over it before anybody realises.

Unfortunately, due to the laziness and ignorance of people (vide numerous comments whining that they haven't received THE LEAFLET, rather than using the same means that they are whining on, to download the ruddy thing. How pathetic!), I can only foresee mass hysteria and panic, as is usual on our glorious rock.

I can only imagine what our clinics and emergency department are going to be like in the coming weeks. Sigh!! Spare a thought for the poor medical staff, who will have to deal with every hypochondriac on the islands, and their wailing relatives.

@Rita Spiteri
I am not angry. I am mildly amused at the panic some people try to create through their ignorance. If you put things into their proper perspective you will realise that there are a thousand other things in life which are more liable to kill you than this influenza variant with a very low mortality rate. Do you want to close down a country because of it? Just let it wash over us and begone with. We won't escape it whatever we do.
As I said, balla ghageb ghalxejn.

The argument brought up by Dr. Busuttil vis a vis Spain not cancelling the U2 concert doesn't hold much water. Spain is one of the worst hit countries in Europe precisely because of its measures or lack thereof to combat this pandemic. No matter what some machos say, swine flu is not something to be sneezed at.

@Malvin Debono augh yuk drinking from the same cup? it's disgusting
@Adrian Cardona wow you are angry aren't you?

@Adrian Cardona:
Couldn't be more perfectly put.
as if I'd refrain from attending a concert or from visiting the UK next week for the fear of getting swine flu which can be easily treated...can't it be understood that only 4 persons in Europe have died from swine flu, ALL OF WHOM had underlying health problems!!!!

qatta ghoggieba.
please don't go to the MTV concert so I won't have any problems parking. And I can stay close to the stage.
Oh, and while you're at it, don't come to the Laaura Pausini or Calleja concerts either. More space for people with comon sense like me.
And don't leave your house either, in case a car hits you. Look at the statistics and see what kills more people.

I see contradiction in the statements by the Health department - first avoid crowds, dont go to hospitals etc and now there's no need to cancel the biggest crowd gathering of the summer..?????????????

Whether it should be cancelled or not is the discretion and decision of the health authorities, and its responsabilities. For sure, this is no bubonic plague, but no one wants to get it. One can go and one can stay away. No one can blame anyone.

We Maltese, fortunately, are no great risk takers, and that saved us lots of times. My impression is many locals will stay away, and the crowd will be an embarassment to MTV.

However minimal percentage of fatality, I dont think it should be taken lightly. For it is probably still not completely understood. Prevention, has always been very much better than cure.

To be honest as a Maltese citizen and living in a free democratic country everyone is free to go and do as they wish, with one exception if unfortunate enough to catch this virus from confined places and gatherings in this case music venues.. they can do so by all means but remember one thing>>>>> keep away from me and my family

@ Mr Mark Anthony Vella - Still does not explain why the vast majority opt to ignore the serious health risk every time they have casual unprotected sex, as unlike HIV and Aids the flu is curable.

I can't believe these comments came from the Director-General of Health!
how can he compare Spain with Malta. We already have an average rate bigger then Spain.
Spain Population = 46,661,950, Spain population Density = 90 people/km2
Swine flu Cases all over Spain = 776
Maltese Population = 410,290, Malta population Density = 1,298/km2
Swine Flu Cases in tiny Malta = 18
Now can Dr Busutill keep comparing Spain with Malta? i think your answer will all be of course not!!!!

I can imagine that this concert will be very crowded, I just wonder how the director-general of health is insisting that there is no reason to cancel the concert, What kind of precautions are those? This is ridiculous.

@R>Vella if these foreign students have the virus and spreading to us Maltese, i say send them back, after all Health is more important then the money they bring in, unless one can pay for a dead person to come back to life.

@ Joanne Micallef

have a look at how this flu is spreading on

http://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/Health_topics/novel_influenza_virus/2009_Outbreak/Outbreak_new_table.aspx

and that is only until 3rd July. In just 24hrs 700 people were reported infected that they know of. Make up your numbers because the more infected people around, the more it spreads, Britain is having to deal with 500 a day because of the high amount of infected!

Anyone can choose to go or not to......but what will happen if a lot of these foreign students show symptoms within the same period while on holiday in MALTA...DO WE HAVE ENOUGH SPACE in Mater dei...? I don't think these would stay in their hotels or flats, etc., if these become sick???!!

yea but at least we'll go down singing.. come on MALTA lets show this flu what we are made of. we have fought off worse that N1H1 and come out winners.

taken from http://www.health.gov.mt/dsu/Influenza%20A(H1N1)/Influenza_A(H1N1)_FAQ.htm

Q17. What should I do to keep from getting the flu?

There is no vaccine available right now to protect against this new H1N1 virus. There are everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza. Take these everyday steps to protect your health:



First and most important: wash your hands. Try to stay in good general health. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food. Try not to touch surfaces that may be contaminated with the flu virus. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth: germs spread this way. Avoid close contact with people who are sick and avoid crowds and mass gatherings.

Nuff said!!!

It’s a sick joke really, when one thinks that with just a few hundred thousand swine flu cases globally we're panicking, whilst with all the millions of HIV and Aids cases around the world the vast majority still opt to have casual unprotected sex.

Pffffff...... It's all about money!!! if only just one infected person is present, we've had it! The below is taken from http://www.sahha.gov.mt/pages.aspx?page=26.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Q17. What should I do to keep from getting the flu?

There is no vaccine available right now to protect against this new H1N1 virus. There are everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza. Take these everyday steps to protect your health:



First and most important: wash your hands. Try to stay in good general health. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food. Try not to touch surfaces that may be contaminated with the flu virus. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth: germs spread this way. Avoid close contact with people who are sick and avoid crowds and mass gatherings.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So the department of health is telling us to avoid mass gatherings and the Director-General of Health, Ray Busuttil is tellings us otherwise.

@M Bonello... Very good points. You hit the nail on the head.

As for all the alarmists and panic-mongers out there... Get ALL your facts straight before spouting the utter rubbish that's appearing on these pages. Moronic comments based on half-baked truths, complete fallacies and pure, hysterical paranoia is what gets panic stations started across the country. And it's not like we usually need much to hop on the panic train anyway!

Whether one likes it or not, the probability is that each and every one of us is going to be exposed to swine flu eventually, concert or no concert. If you can afford to stay in a hermetically-sealed room for the next year or so, then you might stand a chance of avoiding this flu...the known cases might be 16, but there are probably 100s in the community

fully agree with m bonello - most sufferers dont even need tamiflu and get better with-in a week

Why should we copy a country where limiting the virus has obviously failed??

Malta its a small island and its easy to get it they should do some more restrictions and take some more precautions.

I totally agree with v.vella.
It's very easy to say 'just don't go to the MTV concert'...but most young ppl will still go whether there is a risk or not simply because it is something which cannot be missed according to them....their decision of course.....but it could affect many others later don't you think?

I'm sorry to burst everybody's bubble, I just want to mention that the WHO have declared that this virus is unable to be contained. It is spread so easily that the only measures to be affective are adequate handwashing, and proper hygiene.

the rest is useless. Cancelling Isle of MTV with all the financial burden that involves is a useless measure that will only delay the inevitable by one or two days.

Again I have to mention that it is a very contagious virus, but its mortality and morbidity rate is very low, much lower than seasonal influenza. And tamiflu doesn' t cure it, it just decreases the morbidity time. So people should inform themselves before starting being alarmists.

Imagining England cancelling Glastonbury because of H1N1 Or Wimbeldon.

Its only in Malta that people can be so alarmists. In the rest of the world live goes on.

Of course no concerts will be can cancelled, as this will hurt the money pockets of organizers and all those who gain a profit from these events! I am sure that the amount of people infected will soar. Dr Busutiil I would really reconsider the strategy you adopted if I were you!

Is this another one like "the recession is not going to hit us"???....

.... and then it hit us!!!

Complacency is dangerous....

"Dr Musuttil said there was no reason to scan people entering the island since those who were asymptomatic could be carrying the virus."

If I'm not mistaken, when the Japanese student who left Malta a few weeks ago was diagnosed with the A H1 N1 influenza virus in Germany, Maltese health authorities said that he was not showing symptoms when on the island, hence he was not carrying the flu virus when he was on our soil.

Is this a contradiction, or what?

I'm sensing a desperate attempt at minimizing an erstwhile potentially highly dangerous situation here!

So Spain has a high incidence of the flu, Ryan air flies cheap flights from Spain so we would have a nice number of Spainiards here for the occasion, and my like all teenagers want to go .Very nice indeed.I bet that we would have hundreds of cases come next week

In my opinion we should take care of ourselves and our families.If one feels that he should not go in crowded places to avoid getting the virus its good after all if one is sick he and his family will suffer not the authorities.

Sure Spain did not cancel the U2 concert but the first cases of swine flu in Malta came from - guess where - Spain - and probably from that same concert! Are we being serious here or what!

I am baffled!!! In more than one statement the Health Department advises us to AVOID CROWDED PLACES and NOT TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL OR CLINICS IF SYMPTOMS ARE FELT. Now they are saying that there is no public health reason to cancel public mass events.....Aren't these statements a little contradictory???? By the way, a large number of Spanish students are coming to Malta next week, many of which will probably attend the Isle of MTV concert. There is no way the swine flu is going to be controlled if stricter measures are not taken!!

People get the flu all the time ... and Swine flu hasn't been a killer yet ... so why the panic? People please calm down

For crying out loud, it's just a flu. Just because it has an exotic name it doesn't mean that it's more deadly then AIDS or other diseases we are already dealing with.

Sorry guys it won't wash with me and my family, i am taking the minister's advice and stay away, you know what u can do with MTV concert and the H1N1 virus, so then if anyone in the crowd happens and is unfortunate enough to contract the virus all we hear from these greedy so and so is An Apology, well you know what you can do with your :Who's sorry now song:!! i leave that to your musical imagination.

Here in the UK Glastonbury still took place and that is an event over 3 days were people are living together. There's been no massacre because of swine flu and I think people in Malta are giving it too much credit. It is the FLU people! simply because it is a pandemic explains it's size not its consequences. And by the way, the church in malta said that other diocese abroad had taken similar measures to it. Well over here, not only are people taking communion as they wish but there is also the taking of wine from the same cup. Goes to show how serious this whole thing is.

In this particular article Dr Busuttil says that there is no need to cancel any concerts......The Reason being that Spain "where cases of H1N1 influenza were rampant, did not cancel the U2 concerts". Couldn't it be that influenza in Spain is rampant because their attitude of not cancelling concerts etc etc is being adopted by their Director of Health ??

And then he says that there is no reason to scan people entering the island since those who were asymptomatic could be carrying the virus. SO WHAT Ray Busuttil ??? So because there could be people who are still asymptomatic, wo should also allow in people who are symptomatic ?? So our scanning methods at the airport is looking for people who are using tissues?? What kind of flawed reasoning is this Ray Busuttil........RESIGN and Save face before a mega pandemic hits us.

I went to mass this morning and heard coughing (kids too) so we are a complacent nation! The collection basket went round as usual from hand to hand too.

Would it be prudent for me to place a notice at the reception door at work saying bluntly "If you are sick please don't come in don't make me ask you to leave as I will not serve you!".

Use common sense if the department doesn't postpone the MTV concert just don't go! We have to take our own decisions too, we are no longer sheep being led by the shepherd.

We have no idea that the time to take precautions is NOW. It's as though we expect someone to fire a gun to start thinking.

So let me see how this works.

I am being advised to wash my hands, monitor my health and if in doubt consult my GP, and to stay away from crowded places. Yet I can go to the MTV gig thing. Maybe the airwaves and loud pumping beats can fight off H1N1 better than TamiFlu. Or perhaps when there is something going on that involves a lot of cash, H1N1 runs away.

I am of the impression that the authorities are being complacent. No need for this, no need for that...in my opinion this will result in a failure to contain the flu. Mark my words...

It is a fact that the risks of passing on the virus increase in crowded areas. If the Spanish authorities took certain decisions (motivated by financial gain) to take such risks, it does not follow that we should use this as a model on which to base our decisions in this matter.