"More than 184 people out of every 100,000 in the east London borough have required treatment with anti-viral drugs" quotes thelondonpaper.com (full article here). Dramatic information, yet, there's no mention of how many of the Tower Hamlets patients were actually diagnosed with Swine Flu.
It's yet another of a long line of non-stories. This time, those picking through the frenzy looking for openings to post their own agendas are discussing the undervalued, underfunded, generally decrepit state of the East End.
Poor housing and low level income resulting in generally poorer health, on paper at least, make it seem plausible that a disease like Swine Flu could be more virulent in these circles. However, there is still no real evidence that the symptoms GPs are being inundated with are actually this particular form of Influenza. My understanding is for a true diagnoses of Flu regardless of it being Swine, Avian etc, a patient would need a Blood test.
Less then satisfactory circumstances doesn't explain the shift in behaviour from treating illness with an errand to Superdrug for Lemsip and Vicks Vapour Rub to a beeline to the GP for Tamiflu. Poor education, high unemployment and a community reliant on Tabloids and Media melodrama however, does.
Real life Eastenders may not be any more likely to latch onto public hysteria than any other Social group. But those in deprived areas are the leaders in multiplying frenzy not to incredible levels (like the rest of society), but impossible proportions. Some even harbour a (mostly unconscious) desire to associate themselves with a such high-profile new story. Why? Because any and all drama trumps over sad, grey reality. This week, it just happens to be Swine Flu.
It's yet another of a long line of non-stories. This time, those picking through the frenzy looking for openings to post their own agendas are discussing the undervalued, underfunded, generally decrepit state of the East End.
Poor housing and low level income resulting in generally poorer health, on paper at least, make it seem plausible that a disease like Swine Flu could be more virulent in these circles. However, there is still no real evidence that the symptoms GPs are being inundated with are actually this particular form of Influenza. My understanding is for a true diagnoses of Flu regardless of it being Swine, Avian etc, a patient would need a Blood test.
Less then satisfactory circumstances doesn't explain the shift in behaviour from treating illness with an errand to Superdrug for Lemsip and Vicks Vapour Rub to a beeline to the GP for Tamiflu. Poor education, high unemployment and a community reliant on Tabloids and Media melodrama however, does.
Real life Eastenders may not be any more likely to latch onto public hysteria than any other Social group. But those in deprived areas are the leaders in multiplying frenzy not to incredible levels (like the rest of society), but impossible proportions. Some even harbour a (mostly unconscious) desire to associate themselves with a such high-profile new story. Why? Because any and all drama trumps over sad, grey reality. This week, it just happens to be Swine Flu.
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