H1N1 Flu Endangers South American Tribes

According to the BBC World News, H1N1 flu has surfaced in a small Amazon tribe in Venezuela. Because of the lack of vaccines available to indigenous peoples here, it has been likened to "hidden genocide".

One of the largest groups of indigenous peoples of the Amazon basin, they have little contact with outsiders. For this reason they have no immunity to common Western diseases. They have suffered epidemics of measles and, in the 1980's, a gold rush led to the deaths of 20% of their population. Little attention has been given to permanent health care facilities in the area according to Survival International.

There has been an effort to provide health care to the flu victims, but this raises the possibility of bringing yet more disease to the region, so it must be done by a small number of carefully selected individuals.

Comments: 14

Richard Frisbie Nov 5, 2009, 8:30pm EST

Obviously you missed the news that a family pet or two has swine (those poor pork farmers - can't we say H1N1 and not cost them another BILLION dollors is losses) flu. A cat and a ferret are diagnosed with and recovering from H1N1 virus. Pick another Top keyword to boost your status and give the poor pig farmers a break.

Sarah A. (I KANZ B UH RITUR!!!!) , YEZ!! Nov 5, 2009, 8:38pm EST

Will do.

Sarah A. (I KANZ B UH RITUR!!!!) , YEZ!! Nov 5, 2009, 8:40pm EST

Though I don't see what pets has to do with this post.

Aniko Nov 5, 2009, 9:52pm EST

Richard, do people really associate "swine flu" with pork? (Outside of places like Egypt, I mean.)

Sarah A. (I KANZ B UH RITUR!!!!) , YEZ!! Nov 5, 2009, 10:05pm EST

I believe they do, alas. There has been a downturn in pork sales. *sigh*

Sarah A. (I KANZ B UH RITUR!!!!) , YEZ!! Nov 6, 2009, 7:44am EST

Richard said (somewhere?) that the pork industry has lost billions. How sad is it that people think they can avoid the flu by avoiding pork yet refuse to be vaccinated?

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JOHN BECK Nov 5, 2009, 11:04pm EST

Having limited exposure to communicable diseases has its benefits and drawbacks.

Sarah A. (I KANZ B UH RITUR!!!!) , YEZ!! Nov 5, 2009, 11:15pm EST

I was an anthropology major for my first 3 years of college. I would read the ethnographies of wonderful tribes, people whose way of living was so unique and creative that it brought tears to my eyes. Invariably, the last paragraph would say "such and such a group was wiped out by European diseases in xxxx". I don't think there's much to be done, except, as the woman from Survival International said, to establish permanent health care facilities in these areas. Since these folks are almost invariably poor, (in money), and tend not to vote, that seldom happens.

JOHN BECK Nov 5, 2009, 11:23pm EST

I can picture you as a volunteer worker in such a setting, Sarah.

Sarah A. (I KANZ B UH RITUR!!!!) , YEZ!! Nov 5, 2009, 11:31pm EST

I wish my health were better. As is, I'd have to bring a healthcare worker to take care of me as I took care of them. I'd love to meet such people, though whether they have any interest in meeting me is another question.

JOHN BECK Nov 5, 2009, 11:37pm EST

I also wish your health were better, but not for that reason.

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Spartan * Nov 6, 2009, 12:58am EST

Ssssh...be vewy, vewy quiet Sawah! The Batsh*t Cwazy people think H1N1 Vaccine is going to poison us!

Sarah A. (I KANZ B UH RITUR!!!!) , YEZ!! Nov 6, 2009, 7:38am EST

Don't I know it. Yesterday the BSCP accused me of everything from eating junk food to narcotics abuse in an attempt to shut me up and changa de subject...

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Jeff H. Nov 12, 2009, 11:14pm EST

Somebody needs to get them people out of the sticks and into civilization.....

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H1N1 Flu Endangers South American Tribes

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