Blue View – The Last Pandemic from a Sailor’s View
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View of Pitcairn Island from Bounty Bay
We were sailing around the world in 2009 when the last pandemic, the H1N1 swine flu, occurred. To be precise, we were on a long passage from Easter Island to Pitcairn Island when, unbeknownst to us, the WHO declared that the flu epidemic had become a full fledged, worldwide pandemic. Our communications at sea were limited to weather reports and short emails from friends and family, and the topic of the pandemic never came up. Thus we were quite surprised to discover that Pitcairn had closed its port and wasn’t allowing any new arrivals to land.
Map of Pitcairn (Courtesy of Lonely Planet)
Pitcairn Island, as you probably know, is where the crew of the Bounty sailed to after their infamous mutiny. It was one of the many faraway, exotic places I had long wanted to visit since reading about it as a boy, and we were both quite disappointed to learn that we wouldn’t be allowed ashore. It is one of the most remote, isolated places in the world, with a tiny population (roughly 75 people in total) and limited medical facilities, so a swine flu outbreak could be devastating. The health officer talked with us via radio, and when he learned we had been at sea and in contact with no one but each other for more than the fourteen day incubation period for the H1N1 virus, he decided to make an exception for us. He allowed us to come ashore, then after taking our temperatures and giving us a brief medical exam, welcomed us to his tiny island.
Fletcher’s descendant, Brenda Christian
Sign pointing to place that the HMS Bounty was scuttled
We spent three marvelous days exploring every part of the island and meeting many of the warm, friendly residents. None other than Brenda Christian, great-great-granddaughter of Lieutenant Fletcher Christian was the immigration officer, chief of police and our hostess. We would have stayed much longer, but a change in the weather was coming and it was prudent for us to move on. Brenda and her husband saw us off with a basket of home baked goodies, fruit and souvenirs – along with some tearful goodbye hugs.
Brenda and husband saying farewell
It’s estimated that the 2009 swine flu pandemic killed between 151,700-575,400 people worldwide in the first year. In the U.S., the CDC estimated there were 60.8 million cases, 274,304 hospitalizations, and 12,469 deaths due to the H1N1 virus between April 2009 and April 2010. While those are sobering numbers, they pale in comparison to the CDC estimates for the current Coronavirus pandemic, which could cause 10 to 100 times as many deaths in the U.S.
We are no longer bobbing around the world’s oceans on a small boat, totally oblivious to most world events. Instead, we are now very well informed, if not inundated, with the latest news, especially that about the pandemic. Like several other U.S. officials, our governor, Steve Sisolak, has requested that everyone avoid all but essential travel – i.e. groceries, prescriptions and important medical visits. We plan to comply. It’s the prudent thing to do, especially since everyone in our household is in the ‘at risk’ category. And, after all, we do have some experience in extended quarantine periods, even if they were accidental and self-inflicted. Maybe I’ll get a chance to get caught up on some of those home projects that I’ve been postponing.
And if you are wondering how you are going to cope with an extended ‘home vacation’, watch for Marcie’s upcoming blog in the next few days on things to do to prevent going stir crazy.
Stay well...