www.CostaRicaTicas.com

the annual pilgrimage to Cartago has been cancelled or just discouraged?

I see the Cruz Roja is withdrawing support.

What happens if thousands and thousands of people make the walk anyway?

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It has been officially canceled. The Basilica will not be open and no ceremonies will be held by the church.

While everyone is encouraged to worship at their local church instead obviously there is no way to enforce the decree. Those who insist on making the pilgrimage will not have the police or red cross providing protection and first aid.

_________________
Pura Vida
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Alex Levine

Why was this cancled?

My first trip down on 8-2 I took a bus and went to Cartago. Walked from the bus stop and back. But passed thousands of all ages walking. It was a great event. Have been told people have walked from all over the country.

Just wondering why?

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Take a walk on the wild side.

ok, cancelled.

but, some of the reports/stories of past pilgrimages estimate as much as 40 percent of the population makes the journey.

and the tradition is centuries and centuries old?

I just can't imagine the government and church canceling something so ingrained into Tico culture.

sounds like a major fubar coming up, but I guess we'll see.

the logic is that this will help stop the spread of swine flu?

_________________
The difference between a Sea Story and a Fairy Tale is that a Fairy Tale starts out 'Once Upon a Time..' and a Sea Story starts out 'This is no Shit...'

(export version only, some restrictions may apply, some assembly required, not valid where the sun don't shine...

if you live in the states of Poverty, Darkness or anywhere outside of The Blessings of Civilization Trust, Inc...other rules may apply)

The Health Minister estimated that holding the Pilgrimage might result in 20,000 additional cases of the AN1H1 flu.

The Catholic clergy agreed it was a large risk and along with the Government canceled the event.

Seeing how it is a tradition that has been carried on for over two hundred years and draws an estimated two million participants I doubt they made the decision lightly.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

here are some reports for Florida


TALLAHASSEE - A top state medical official says 5 million Floridians could contract the swine flu within a year if the virus follows the pattern of previous pandemics.

Acting state epidemiologist Dr. Richard Hopkins said Thursday that pandemics are deadly because so many people get sick. He notes that as many as 30 percent or more of the population was infected in previous pandemics.

Officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says they've been estimated this pandemic could be along the lines of the 1957 Asian flu outbreak, with similar infection rates.

Florida has reported that 22 residents infected with the H1N1 virus have died, including 10 in the last three weeks. Officials counts say at least 2,900 Floridians have been sickened from the virus. However, experts say adding in unreported illnesses would make the actual number much higher. Officials expect more cases after public schools open next month.

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if that is accurate, then approx 1 out of 3 people in florida would come down with the flu.

same ratio in CR would result in over 1 million ticos getting the flu.

this link is the only hit I could find on a quick search about any preperations CR is taking regarding the predictic epidemic.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_flu_p ... Costa_Rica

_________________
The difference between a Sea Story and a Fairy Tale is that a Fairy Tale starts out 'Once Upon a Time..' and a Sea Story starts out 'This is no Shit...'

(export version only, some restrictions may apply, some assembly required, not valid where the sun don't shine...

if you live in the states of Poverty, Darkness or anywhere outside of The Blessings of Civilization Trust, Inc...other rules may apply)

And remember the Spanish Flu of 1918 killed an estimated 20-40 million people worldwide. 1/4 of the US population came down with it and 1/5 of the worlds. More people died of it than were killed in WW1. Let's all hope that this does not happen.

Florida has over 4 times the population of Costa Rica but less then twice the incidence of death. What is disturbing is that the death rate has risen dramatically recently in both places.

It would seem that the CR health authorities and the church came down on the side of caution.

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
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Alex Levine

What If The Worst
Were To Occur?


Learn more at http://www.pandemicflu.gov



by Michael Barnaby

What if you and your entire family become bedridden, hospitals turn away patients, and schools, businesses, even houses of worship, close and become off-limits?

It’s entirely possible. And according to scientists, even probable.

Pandemics – worldwide disease episodes – have occurred throughout recorded history, the most recent being the influenza pandemics of 1918 (Spanish flu), 1957 (Asian flu) and 1968 (Hong Kong) flu.

While the Asian and Hong Kong illnesses were relatively mild, the Spanish flu devastated the planet, killing between 20 and 40 million people – more than the death toll from World War I. At one time, one-quarter of the United States and one-fifth of the world were infected with this strain of influenza. It was impossible to escape from the illness. And so it could be again.

Have you given any thought to how a situation such as this would affect you personally? Your preparedness now will impact how your family “weathers the storm” of a national or global surge of sickness.

Consider this possible – probable - scenario: To begin with, any effective vaccine will not be available for about six months after the pandemic begins, and it’s likely that there won’t be enough to treat the entire population. Ch*ldren and young adults may be hit disproportionately, and most probably will have to remain and be treated in the home. Everyone will be forced to take on greater responsibility, both for themselves and others, since sickness will overwhelm the capabilities of healthcare professional. Even food delivery and other services could be disrupted. And finally, there will be a much higher death rate than normal, with many victims being workers in important services such as communication, medicine and transportation, among others.

Now, all of this may seem to be a bit heavy on the “gloom and doom,” but to paint a different picture would be unfair to all of us. As individuals, as a community, and as a nation, we must prepare ourselves for such an eventuality.

Given the above, what can the individual person do? Well, we can educate ourselves, and we can also take solid, practical steps. Some may seem small, or even trivial, yet may be among the most important steps available:

* Get a yearly flu shot and if over 50 a pneumovax (pneumonia) shot.
* Get into the habit of washing your hands for 20 seconds in hot water with soap or ethanol hand sanitizer; carry antiseptic wipes.
* Get into the habit of coughing/sneezing into the crook of your arm/sleeve, or better yet, use tissue.
* Exercise regularly in order to strengthen your heart and lungs; taking care of your health now will benefit you later.
* If you smoke, stop now.
* Learn basic first aid and nursing procedures, so that you can care for yourself and your loved ones.
* Stay home if you become ill or if you feel you might have been exposed to a virus.
* Always keep a three to seven day supply of food that is non-perishable and easy to prepare.
* Remember water, medicines, basic household necessities (toilet paper, paper towels, plastic bags, tissues, plain bleach, soaps and detergents, batteries, masks, latex gloves, sugar, salt, multivitamins, and other staples.
* Learn how to purify water (rolling boil for 1 minute, or add bleach as directed on label; if unknown, use 10 drops per quart.

well, i understand the reasoning behind the official decisions regarding the pilgrimage, but other events such as large sporting events are still being held.

i am curious as to how the public will react to the suspension. as one paraphrased quote put it "government is government and religion is religion"

there should already be people starting the walk from the farther reaches of the country if they plan on participating. i can't find any reports of that but it is still over a week out.


I know in Mexico that there have been reports of otherwise healthy people between the ages of lets say 15 and 39 years old have died due to the flu, but the vast majority of other deaths seemed to have been with unfortunate people with underlying health problems such as diabetes, asthma and/or obesity/heart problems where their resistance has been compromised.

anyway, an interesting situation going on with the attempted cancellation of the pilgrimage over the threatening flu epidemic, itself a subject with a
fascinating history.

_________________
The difference between a Sea Story and a Fairy Tale is that a Fairy Tale starts out 'Once Upon a Time..' and a Sea Story starts out 'This is no Shit...'

(export version only, some restrictions may apply, some assembly required, not valid where the sun don't shine...

if you live in the states of Poverty, Darkness or anywhere outside of The Blessings of Civilization Trust, Inc...other rules may apply)

As far as I know there have not been any large sports events scheduled to take place since the recent spike in deaths. They may well deide to cancel those also of the occasion arises. The press this morning did report that they will not extend the school mid term holiday another week. Classes resume on Monday.



That is not necessarily true in Costa Rica. Government and Church are very closely attached. Go into a CAJA hospital or clinic and you will most likely see a shrine dedicated to a saint. At Christmas time every government office will have a Nativity scene prominently displayed.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine