Why does Africa have no cases of Swine Influenza listed on the WHO Influenza A H1N1 map? http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/history?

So far, there are no cases of Swine Influenza in Africa. Africa has taken serious action as if it hits - it could have a serious impact as the healthcare of some of the countries is not enough to be able to tackle the new Swine Influenza and would result in a lot of people dying. "If the epidemic hits Africa, the impact would be more serious than in other parts of the world as the surveillance systems are weaker, and the resources insufficient," the WHO chief said. There is also a lack of planes flying into the country - with even less flying in from Mexico - making the disease less likely to spread.

Here is what Wikipedia says about some of the countries in Africa: Benin Results are expected next week on a European woman who returned from Mexico to Benin showing flu like symptoms. Egypt The Egyptian government has increased numbers of medical officers at Cairo Airport and will monitor passengers from Mexico during their stay. The government ordered the mass slaughter of all pigs in Egypt on April 29, even though the current strain is a human-human transmittable, human influenza that has already previously hybridized with avian and swine flu.

The World Organization for Animal Health called the swine killing "scientifically unjustified". Ghana Ghana has banned the importation of pork and pork products. Nigeria Nigerian Health Minister Babatunde Osotimehin said that the country is stockpiling antiviral treatments, informing the public and increasing surveillance.

South Africa On April 29, South Africa reported two possible cases of swine flu from two women who had recently travelled in Mexico. Zambia An emergency task force has been set up by the Zambian government.

My guess is there are two factors at play. 1) Few people travelling between Mexico and Africa. The highest numbers of cases are from places like the US and Spain that have a lot of Mexican connections. Not many Mexicans go to Africa, and not many Africans go to Mexico.So it would not be a main travel route for the virus.

2) Reporting systems aren't so good in Africa For a case to be counted, the infected person has to recognise they have flu of some kind, tell a doctor or other authority, get tested, and be confirmed as a swine flu case. Africa doesn't have such highly developed medical systems as the rest of the world. However, the kind of Africans that could afford to travel to Mexico have better access to healthcare than most in their country.

Nonetheless probably not on a par with the US or Europe.

There were two suspected cases in South Africa, but they were proven negative. (As of a Bloomberg article dated 5/11/09).

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.