Posts Tagged:

 

May 8, 2009

The IMF and the Swine Flu? WHO’s on First!

Posted by Mead Over in IMF, WHO Tags: , ,

This is a joint post with David Goldsbrough.

As the possibility of a one trillion dollar supplement in IMF funding comes closer to fruition in the midst of alerts about the possibility of a new pandemic of influenza, some of us at CGD have been asked about the possibility of connections between IMF adjustment programs and health. Some of the questions are a bit loopy, like: Did the IMF cause the current flu epidemic? And even weirder: should the IMF prevent future flu epidemics? Read More…

1 Comment »

 

May 4, 2009

Preparation for a Flu Epidemic Requires Collective Action on Surveillance; Or, Three More Things I Wish I’d Said on the CBS Nightly News Last Friday

Posted by Mead Over in Health Systems Tags: ,

On Friday Cynthia Bowers of CBS News asked me some questions about the economic impact of the current flu epidemic, particularly on the United States. Since my own focus, as reflected in my recent post, has been on the impact on the developing world, I wish I had said just three more simple things: “To prepare for the next time, the US together with the international community should:

1. Sustain international cooperation on surveillance
2. Expand surveillance effort to ALL infectious diseases
3. Learn from Mexico’s current difficulties”

Here’s what’s behind my recommendations: Read More…

Comment »

 

April 28, 2009

The Potential Economic Impact of Pandemic Flu on Poor Countries: More Serious than a Sneezing Pork Chop

Posted by Mead Over in Global Health Tags:

The impact of this pandemic flu outbreak has little to do with pigs. And a lot to do with people.

Every time there is a global flu epidemic, we seem to want to blame it on something. In 1918 we called it the Spanish flu, though Spaniards had nothing to do with it. For the last few years we blamed it on birds, calling it the “avian flu” as if it were the birds’ fault. Now we’re blaming it on pigs, by calling it the “swine flu”. In an effort to appease the public, several countries have banned the import of pork!

None of this makes any sense. When was the last time you saw a sneezing pork chop? Read More…

Comment »