On June 11, 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the spread of influenza A -- a respiratory disease caused by the H1N1 virus and transmitted through contact with respiratory secretions -- the first pandemic of the 21st century. The disease was also called "swine flu," especially after Canadian and American scientists confirmed that the virus had originated in pigs, possibly in Mexico.
In late April 2009, Brazil recorded its first suspected cases of influenza A. The very next day, five of the country's international airports, among them Rio's Tom Jobim International Airport – Galeão –, began issuing audio announcements about the signs and symptoms of the new disease upon receiving flights arriving from Mexico and the United States, while technical teams from the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) clinically assessed crew members disembarking from these aircraft.
O Globo newspaper headline - April 30, 2009. Marco Antônio Cavalcanti. Agência O Globo
Image description: The image is a photograph of a border control checkpoint. On the left side, two officials dressed in gray suits are standing, wearing white masks. They are positioned in front of a sign bearing the Receita Federal (Federal Revenue Service) symbol. In the center, an official points to the right, also wearing a mask and uniform. In front of him, a blonde-haired woman is holding a black and yellow suitcase. Beside her, a man in a black shirt and jeans is standing still. At the top of the image, there is a black title on a white background that reads "Alerta mundial cresce e OMS diz que pandemia é iminente" ("Global alert grows and WHO says pandemic is imminent"). Below, there is additional informative text about confirmed cases of swine flu in the United States and information regarding Brazil.These sanitary barriers were maintained at Brazilian international airports after the Ministry of Health confirmed, on May 7th, the first four cases in Brazil; two of them in Rio de Janeiro state territory. The following day, the country learned of the sixth case of H1N1 contamination, and also the first case of community transmission. The patient was a Rio native who had come into contact with an acquaintance who had been infected after a trip to Mexico.
At the end of June, a major mining company closed one of the floors of its building in Rio de Janeiro and placed 90 employees under home quarantine after confirming that one of its workers had tested positive for the new flu virus. Between April and December, considered the peak period of the pandemic in the city, Rio's Municipal Health and Civil Defense Department received around five thousand reports of suspected H1N1 infection. Of these, 1,823 were confirmed through laboratory or clinical tests, while 89 patients died from complications of influenza.
Cartoon about Swine Flu. Published on 05/11/2016 by Gilmar on the Gilmar Online website
Image description: The image is a black-and-white cartoon. On the left side, there is an animal with the characteristics of a dog and a pig running. Above it is written "H1N1." On the right side, three pigs are standing together. One of the pigs says: "Excuse us, we'll continue this story another time!" The work is by Gilmar, as indicated by the signature in the bottom right corner.As would be expected, this data had a major impact on public opinion in Rio, and various measures to contain the spread of H1N1 began to be adopted in the city. Rio residents and tourists, albeit in small numbers, began to be seen wearing face masks in public spaces. Private educational institutions in Rio de Janeiro decided to postpone the return to classes in August, and even Maurício de Souza's Turma da Mônica starred in an audiovisual campaign dedicated to spreading preventive measures against the spread of influenza A in the country.
Rio de Janeiro, 06/27/2009. Photo by Xavier Donat. Flickr Xavier Donat
Image description: This is a photograph of a moment in which a child is being held by an adult. The child is wearing a white mask. The adult has their back to the camera and has gray hair. In the background, there is a brick wall and a window with a white curtain. On the left, there is an indistinct figure, possibly another person.As fast as the spread of the new virus were the country's research and science institutes as well. Still in May 2009, technicians from the Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), headquartered in Rio, managed to map the genetic sequences of H1N1 in samples collected from four patients, two of them Rio natives. In December, they completed the clinical trials of a vaccine that began to be administered nationally in March 2010.
National H1N1 Vaccination Campaign, March 20, 2020. Author: Marcelo Camargo/ Agência Brasil
Image description: The image is a photograph of a vaccination campaign against Influenza A (H1N1). In the foreground, we see a person receiving an injection in the arm, with a hand holding a vaccine vial. In the background, two people are talking, one wearing a red shirt and the other a beige shirt. The scene appears to be taking place indoors, possibly in a health center or clinic.There were those who spread rumors, especially online, that the new vaccine contained toxic substances, which could cause fetal malformation and mental disorders in children. However, since that first half of 2010, the influenza A vaccine has become part of the national vaccination schedule, thus helping to contain the spread of the virus.
It is regrettable to think that the experience with COVID-19 was so different.
