Swine Flu and Tribal Peoples – A Survival International Report
To date, hundreds of thousands of people around the world are known to have contracted swine flu; approximately four thousand people have died from the virus.2 the world health organization (who) has declared a global flu pandemic. Tribal peoples are particularly vulnerable to swine flu. Those that are isolated lack immunity to fight outside diseases, whilst those in regular contact with outsiders often suffer underlying health problems which increase the risk from the virus. The who highlights indigenous populations as among certain subgroups at risk of hospitalization and death from the virus, adding that studies have shown that the risk is ‘four to five times higher than in the general population’.
Health experts across the world have expressed their concerns about the impact of swine flu on tribal communities, calling on governments to make special provisions for their countries’ indigenous populations.
This report takes a close look at how swine flu has affected tribal communities so far, and the potential impact it may have on the health of the world’s most vulnerable peoples.
