Turkish Air Flight 1755

On the flight from Helsinki to Istanbul, special forms were distributed to all Turkish Air passengers. In addition to your name, address, and passport number, the authorities wanted to know if a) you were coughing, sneezing, or running a fever and b) if you’d been exposed to anybody infected with swine flu. Who would answer ‘yes’ to these questions?

Literature about swine flu

Swine flu has quickly become an easy punchline for any vague headache or case of the sniffles, but the authorities are clearly taking it seriously. As we passed through Passport Control at Atatürk Airport, security personnel wore face masks and distributed brochures about the prevention of swine flu. Just look at that miserable girl on the cover! In addition to recommending that you “communicate your suspicion of having swine influenza immediately upon arrival,” the pamphlet suggests that you practice “good health habits and keep physically active.”

Question 1: Are all airlines and airports this worked up over swine flu?

Question 2: Are forms and brochures a reasonable response to a health crisis — or is it simply the easiest way for a country to demonstrate its vigilance?

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Adult. – Contagious
from Resuscitation. Ersatz, 2000
Your signal failed, but I know you’re contagious. Perfect music for paranoid times. Two years ago, I wrote this frustrated love letter to Adult.