Virus

Recently we’ve been seeing in the news the hysteria over the swine flu virus now called h1n1. This simple name change represents the confusion and fear that the name flu or virus creates. It’s difficult for me to believe that in this age that some countries were banning or killing their pigs out of fear that they could be contaminated with the virus.

When I was recently in Costa Rica, we had to fill out forms when entering the country indicating if we had any symptoms of the flu. When we were leaving the country there were announcements in the airport saying that visitors should report to a special area if they had any symptoms of cough, headache, or fever.

In my mind, a virus is a normal part of life. They’ve been here at least as long as humans have and will be here long after us. Perhaps, one day we will be able to control the movements of humans or perhaps provide a “cure” for a virus at a moment’s notice but we aren’t at that point today.

Perhaps it is a bit fatalistic on my part but there’s little we can do except wash our hands and be extremely conscientious when we or others around us are ill.

My latest painting I have dedicated to the virus.

Virus

Acrylic on Canvas

24" x 30"