Swine Flu Frenzy

It's no doubt that the H1N1 flu has swept across the globe.

Since my return to Korea in August, I've noticed the following changes in Seoul:

• One week quarantines at home mandated for all Native English Teachers (like me) who work for the government and have traveled outside of the country.
• Hand sanitizers prominently placed in each subway station. (Before hand sanitizer was almost impossible to find in this country)!
• Mandatory temperature checks for each student entering our school building. (Mind you, the thermometer is only wiped with the same napkin in between each student.)
  
• More prominent hand-washing. (Signs are even posted next to sinks in subway stations now).
• Even more limited physical contact. No more hand-shakes or high fives at church for now...
• Numerous events canceled due to swine flu concerns.

Last week, I noticed that The Korea Times posted these two headlines on the same day:
S. Korea Raises Flu Alert to Highest Red Level
Public Advised to Be Calm Over Flu Alert

Although I've found the seemingly hyper-sensitivity a little over the top, there are people that are really being affected by this. One of my English teachers came down with H1N1 and was out of school all week. One of the second grade classes at my school was canceled for the entire week because 15 of the students were absent on Monday, due to H1N1. I believe the public was shocked even more when Korean actor Lee Gwang-gi's only son died from H1N1 over the weekend.

It's not an issue to take lightly...