Prudence vs. panic

Whether or not swine flu reaches pandemic status, the airlines are already bearing some of the economic pain it causes. There’s no clear line of demarcation between prudence and panic in these situations. Was it premature for the European Union to advise travelers to avoid visiting not only Mexico but areas of the U.S. where this strain of flu has been identified? We will never know.

Here is what we do know: The Spanish flu of 1918 spread so far and wide because of the unprecedented movement of people all over the world in the waning days and aftermath of WWI. At least a third of the world’s population – some estimates put it at half -- became ill, and somewhere between 20 million and 100 million died. Travel plays a role in spreading viruses, and air travel can spread them farther and more rapidly.

The airlines are waiving change fees for travel from the U.S. to Mexico, but that’s a bit like closing the barn door after the horse is gone. What might make a real difference is waiving change fees for people who feel ill or have been exposed to the virus. That will dry up some badly needed revenue in the short term, but it’s nothing compared to what would happen in a full-scale pandemic. Now is not the time to quibble over doctors’ notes.

Since the best way to avoid getting the flu is to keep your hands clean, the airlines also could distribute antibacterial wipes at the beginning and end of each flight and enforce their use as rigorously as they enforce seatbelt rules.

My mother never knew her father. He died before she was born, in the 1918 pandemic. For me, a flu epidemic is not just theoretical; it’s part of my family history. We are not yet anywhere near the time to panic, but we can take a few simple steps to avoid reaching that point, like staying home if we are sick. The airlines can and should do their part as well.