Healing prayer counters flu fears

BY CHANNING WALKER

Common Sense , not panic. That's what healthcare authorities called for as concern over a swine flu outbreak in Mexico stirred around the globe. Strong cooperation and coordination among nations, not an international blame-game, were the order of the day. Experts saw these as key to a united effort to stop the spread of the contagious disease.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in the United States identified the sickness as a new strain of influenza, and Mexico responded promptly. The CDC and the World Health Organization (WHO) promoted steps such as managing the scope and timing of some public gatherings, limiting nonessentinal travel to certain areas, and distributing face masks that some believe reduce the likelihood of transmitting the illness.

If the disease strain is novel, the response to it isn't, and may sound a bit like a lecture from your grandmother: "Go wash your hands again." At this writing, the consensus emerging among experts appears to be that while the virus is continuing to spread, it won't necessarily be as severe as was first expected. Officials add a warning note about its possible return in the fall. But for now, WHO has informed the public that from its perspective, the likelihood of full recovery extends even to individuals who receive no medical attention and go without any antiviral drugs.