Swine Flu and Epidemical Imagery
President Obama has said that the Swine flu outbreak is cause for concern but, "not a
cause for alarm." Meanwhile, the EU's health chief, advised against traveling to the US and Mexico.
1918, via archives.gov /Artwork: designslinger]
While the President is using words to comfort us in an effort not to cause panic, images
(or EU official's statements) broadcast around the world do little to combat a growing anxiety about contracting the disease. Groups of police personnel wearing masks is not something we haven't seen before, but the pictures are no less alarming than they were during the influenza epidemic of 1918.
rider, April 26, 2009, Justin Lane/EPA via guardian.com /Artwork: designslinger]
We don't have subway monitors handing out masks on our transit systems yet, but in
Seattle 90 years ago, you couldn't board the street car unless you had facial protection. The picture of the New York City subway rider was captured a few days ago, wearing protection even before required too.
Narita International Airport, Tokyo, Yuriko Nakao/Reuters via guardian.co.uk; /Artwork: designslinger]
The 1918 poster not only sends out a warning, but helps you with instructions on how to
protect yourself by making a mask. While the image from Narita Airport simply alerts security that someone is "hot" - masked or not.
No matter how many statements officials make to try and quell any panic among the
populace, these images paint a very scary picture, just as they did decades ago. Remember that old saying, "A picture is worth a thousand words," well these photos may not be helping to tell an accurate story about the dangers of this current outbreak, but they sure conjure up thoughts of influenzas gone by.
Posted by designslinger at 4/28/2009 4:30 AM 
Categories: Photography, History
Tags: Influenza historical photographs
Categories: Photography, History
Tags: Influenza historical photographs
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