Zawaya

The Maghreb countries remain cautious while preparing for the risks of a pandemic

By: Adel Rochdy

Knowing whether swine flu is a potential real pandemic, or a manipulation of the global public opinion in order to make huge profits requires considering two aspects, the first is purely health-focused and the second takes into account economic criteria.

It seems at first glance that it is improper to highlight the economic interests of multinational pharmaceutical companies, because the disease exists for real and has killed people around the world. Risks do exist and there are even claims of a resurgence of swine flu this autumn and winter.

However, some facts shade the alert state and mitigate the magnitude of this new disease that appeared right after the bird flu.

In fact, a stack of evidence puts the risks of swine flu into perspective, while indicating a possible and highly probable manipulation of public opinion, without denying nonetheless the harm of this disease, which has killed a thousand people around the world.

Many wonder about the 250,000 to 500,000 people who die each year of the seasonal flu that visits our homes every winter without being considered a pandemic.

Other facts include how French, Swiss and American laboratories produced large quantities of Tamiflu, the remedy against swine flu. This represents a staggering turnover since the price of a Tamiflu pack in France rose overnight from 7 to 20 Euros.

Also, for several months, the bird flu was said to be the most dangerous epidemic ever. A large mobilization ensued and medicines were sold everywhere, only to find out that it caused less than 500 deaths in 2 years. It seems unnecessary to drop into a state of alarmism just to sell as much medicine as possible.

Therefore, we can easily understand the position of the Maghreb countries who are trying to be cautious towards a possible dangerous pandemic, while attempting to control the cost of vaccines since they are planning to produce them instead of buying them.

Actually, Morocco’s idea to produce its own vaccines against the influenza A/H1N1 on a generic mode is an excellent idea that should be extended to all the Maghreb countries. Meanwhile, a bulk purchase by the Maghreb States of vaccine doses will provide a good example of health cooperation and will help reduce the purchasing cost.

The Maghreb countries have a lot to gain by playing down the situation and developing scientific and medical research. This will happen by coupling public and private funds and human resources in the region to fight an epidemic originally caused by an animal whose meat is not consumed in the region, since it is prohibited by Islam, the majority religion in over 97% of the Maghreb.

The cancellation of the pilgrimage for Tunisian citizens is a measure that confirms the existence of a pandemic risk, but also saves the Tunisian government from seeing a good amount of its money leave with the pilgrims.