This ship carried deadly influenza into Apia in 1918, while the New Zealand administrators did nothing to stop the spread of the virus. 22% of the population died as a result, while in American Samoa, which took preventive measures, there were no fatalities.
Guest Post by Eric Flis
- Part 1 – Introduction and Overview
- Part 2 – Economic Vulnerability
- Part 3 – Pandemic Vulnerability and Future Paradise
Eric is a member of AIPIO (Australian Institute of Professional Intelligence Officers) and is currently studying for his Post Graduate Diploma in Policing, Intelligence and Counter Terrorism. Eric can be contacted at intellisec(@)hushmail dot com.
Pandemic Vulnerability
In 1918 and 1919 the Spanish Flu had devastating affects on populations around the world. The global mortality rate is not known but it is estimated at around 2.5% to 5% of the world’s population, with 20% of the world’s population suffering from the Spanish Flu to some extent (Wikipedia, 2006).
Samoa’s population was particularly badly hit by the Spanish Flu with 22% of its population killed. Samoa’s population in 1918 and 1919 would have been significantly lower, so this loss of life would be magnified to a much greater extent if such a pandemic were to happen today. Even with a population of 199,000, 22% of the total population is a massive number.
All this leads to questions being raised about the world’s ability to cope with a pandemic of Bird Flu. Countries that have a modern medical system and the latest in both medical equipment and pharmaceutical manufacturing are in a much better position to cope with such a pandemic.
Countries such as Samoa, who are listed among the Least Developed Countries by the United Nations, would struggle to cope.
Firstly Samoa would struggle to cope with the numbers of sick and dying and secondly it would struggle to recover.
Samoa has one national hospital located at Vailima, just outside of the capital of Apia on the main island of Upolu. This hospital is the most up to date and best equipped in the country. There are regional hospitals throughout the main island of Upolu as well as Savai’i. There is also a major hospital at Tuasivi on Savai’i and although it is the most modern on Savai’i, it is not at the level of the National Hospital at Vailima.
There is also a private hospital, the Medcen, also located at Vailima which is well equipped and modern. But with this hospital costing around $300.00WS as day, it is out of reach for most Samoan’s.
Recently Samoa experienced a major health crisis, with Doctors going on strike over pay conditions. Doctors in Samoa receive about $30,000.00WS (approximately $15,000.00AU) after completing six years university. Subsequently a lot of Samoa’s Doctors and Nurses move overseas to work. This relates back to earlier points about a shortage of skilled labour within the country. And it is noticeable in the hospitals as a lot of the doctors are from other countries, and in a lot of cases are employed in Samoa through the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The doctors’ strike lasted for approximately 5 months when Samoa’s Prime Minister gave the doctors an ultimatum; return to work or be sacked. The doctors then proceeded to resign rather than return to work.
This lead to a major crisis, with hospitals around the country having no doctors. The national hospital at Vailima had two doctors working, and the Medcen private hospital was staffed. But regional hospitals were left with no doctors at all.
During this period any one who was severely ill was being flown out of the country to New Zealand. But of course this situation does not help those that need immediate medical attention, where a flight could jeopardise their life.
In terms of medications such as vaccinations for the Bird Flu, Samoa would be reliant on either New Zealand or Australia to lend assistance and supply them with the required medications.
Samoa already relies heavily on donated medications and through various funds set up to help developing nations. It is not uncommon in Samoa to find prescribed medications past the expiry date and still being sold and used.
As I touched on earlier, Samoa has a population of both Japanese and Chinese that live and or work in Samoa. This connection could potentially expose Samoa to the threat of Bird Flu spreading to Samoa. Both Japan and China have experienced cases of Bird Flu. Since 2003 China has recorded 21 cases of Bird Flu, with 14 total deaths. This is a very high mortality rate for people who contract the disease (Cumulative Number of Confirmed Human Cases of Avian Influenza, 2006, WHO).
Another aspect that poses a threat to Samoa with regards to the spread of Bird Flu is the fact the Apia harbour is one of the major shipping ports in the South Pacific. Many products in Samoa originate in places such as China and come into the country aboard ships to Apia.
An interesting point to raise here is that if we are comparing the spread of Spanish Flu to that of Bird Flu, one of the theories that has been presented is that the Spanish Flu began to spread through port cities. Apia is a perfect example of a port city. It is thought that in 1918 the Spanish Flu virus mutated and spread to three port cities, Freetown, Sierra Leone; Brest, France and Boston, Massachusetts (Lessons from the 1918 Spanish Flu – Part I, 2006, Duncan).
It is not too far a leap of the imagination to assume that Bird Flu may spread in a similar fashion.
Considering other major pandemics to hit the world spread around the globe in six to nine months, it is thought in this age of globalization it would take as little as three months.
The World Health Organization believes that once a contagious virus emerges, its global spread is inevitable in this day and age and that all countries will be affected (WHO, 2006).
Given Samoa’s loose border control and lack of medical infrastructure, it remains at great risk of a population decimating pandemic such as the Bird Flu scenario given by the World Health Organization.
Future Paradise
Samoa needs to continue to develop policies that move towards economic stability. They also need to encourage local industry development to ensure economic stability. As we have seen the major industries in Samoa at present such as the tuna industry may not be sustainable over the long term. Samoa needs to plan for this and diversify its industry.
The tourism industry needs to continue to be nurtured as it is the biggest growing industry at present in Samoa. There have been steps taken to develop skilled labour within the country for the tourism sector. The Samoa Tourism Authority for example runs training days that are free of charge for resort workers. This training is in areas of customer service and food hygiene to name just two. This is a positive step to ensuring the tourism industry survives and contribute in a positive way to Samoa’s economy.
In terms of protecting itself from a major pandemic such as Bird Flu, hospitals must be fully stocked and staffed to have any chance of coping with such an outbreak of a deadly disease.
Putting in place agreements with countries such as New Zealand and Australia, supply of medications needed to treat Bird Flu, and have a stock pile of vaccines for Bird Flu is crucial.
Samoa needs to take part in regional planning to prepare itself to deal with an outbreak of Bird Flu, as well as an awareness program set up to provide the public with the knowledge needed to identify possible cases of Bird Flu and how to seek treatment.
Bibliography
- CIA, (2006), CIA World Fact Book, Central Intelligence Agency.
- Duncan, K (2006), “Lessons from the 1918 Spanish Flu”, PERI Symposium.
- Malielegaoi, T.S. (2006), Statement to UN at Review of Least Developed Nations, United Nations.
- McNeil, D (2006), “Revealed: Japans Secret Whaling ‘Shopping List’â€, Independent UK.
- Nickel-Leaupepe, J (2005) 4. District Hospitals to get doctors: PM.
- Cabinet needs more time to look at the Commission of Enquiry’s Report, LeSamoa.
- Shibuya, E and Rolf, J (2003) Security in Oceania in the 21st Century, Asia-Pacific Centre for Security Studies.
- STA (2004), October Monthly Newsletter, Samoa Tourism Authority.
- US Department of State, Samoa – Country Reports on Human Rights, (2004), Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor.
- Wikipedia (2006), Spanish Flu, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_flu
- Windybank (2005), “The China Syndrome”, Policy.
- World Health Organisation (2006) Cumulative Number of Confirmed Human Cases of Avian Influenza A/(H5N1) Reported to WHO.
