Submitted by Dr. Antonio Avina

About: I am a rheumatologist, currently doing a PhD at the University of British Columbia. I am also a Research Scientist at the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS) here in Mexico. I was on leave to conclude my PhD studies in Canada.

Read Dr. Avina's previous report from Mexico sent on Tuesday, April 28, 2009.

My update:: Hello again to all in Canada and the rest of the world. It is currently midnight, Mexico time. I am on a plane on my way back to Vancouver, the place I call home.

The last 2-3 weeks have been a huge learning process not only as a scientist and physician, but as a citizen of two worlds.

I do not think you need to hear any more numbers, any more scenarios about influenza from Mexico, its health care system, the dead or the alive.

We started describing the swine flu outbreak that happened just upon my arrival to Mexico City. Since then many things have happened, the name of the flu even changed to influenza A H1N1.

There has been disbelief, misinformation, fear, panic, anger, discrimination, ignorance and economic loss.

Some stories really surprised me. You probably knew that China forced asymptomatic passengers from Mexico and Canada to be isolated against their will; despite not being a recommendation from the World Health Organization (WHO) or CDC-USA or any major global health authority.

Read one Canadian's story of being quarantined.

Other cases of harassment to citizens with reported cases of influenza A H1N1 have been reported from around the world, but mainly from Mexico. Naively I thought that this had changed after SARS.

Countries have closed their borders to Mexicans (Cuba, Peru, Argentina.) Gladly Canada, the U.S., and the European Union did not, despite the fact that there have been some voices saying to do so.

What we have seen in the world is a mirror of what we have seen within Mexico City. Buses and cars traveling from Mexico City to Acapulco have been stopped by scared citizens, who thought that this would spread the virus.

During the last two days in Mexico, there's been an intense desire to get our regular lives back. Authorities waved the sanitary alert, allowing schools to reopen gradually beginning with universities and high schools. Day care, elementary and secondary schools will reopen this Monday. Today and yesterday people went outside as though they were children playing outside for the first time.

Unfortunately, precautions still need to be taken and we need to keep our guard high. Restaurants opened yesterday and people went crazy, shaking hands, kissing on the cheeks (a very traditional way to say hello in Mexico, especially in Mexico City,) against the recommendations from the health authorities.

Before my departure and during the time spent on the plane, a lot of thoughts came to my mind. I was surprised to see how fragile we are as humans living collectivity in society. We do not value many things; we usually take them for granted, especially health and freedom. But what surprised me the most was to see that we still believe that doing individual actions (like buying prescriptions just in case, like rejecting healthy individuals, like closing borders, or being isolated for some days, etc) will be better for us than tackling a problem as a whole. I feel that something is missing.

I am so glad that this outbreak has not been as bad as we expected, we are so lucky that this new virus is responsive to treatment. This really could have been a very different story. Our world is no longer safe; at least from the public health perspective and we still have a lot to do, we have to be ready for the big one.

This epidemic has provided me with an extraordinary opportunity to see both the greatest aspects of humanity and the worst. We still have another chance, outbreaks can come from anywhere and we have to push to make a healthier world, not only in our fortunate countries, like Canada. Viruses and bugs do not know about frontiers, wealth, race, or beliefs, they just take the best of us: our tolerance, our health, and sometimes our lives.

At this moment, I think about my return to Canada. Coming from Mexico City, which has been the worst place to be (in some minds) over the last two weeks, I start to wonder. Will Canadian officers and health authorities be at the airport re-questioning us again? Will citizens be scared to be around me?

I say to myself, this cannot happen. In Canada, we all are Canadian. Despite our differences we all strongly fight against any type of harassment. I feel confused, I have seen and experienced things lately that make me doubt that. We will see.

I landed without delays, Canadians, especially the immigration officers, were nice as always.

They asked how I felt, if I had a fever, if I had any contact with sick people. After responding no to all, I received a smile and an honest "WELCOME HOME SIR."

I followed those with relief and a sincere and happy "thank you." Canada is my other home, still the same: "the best place to be."

Today I went to a karate demonstration at my daughter's former school. The principal and the sensei who knew I was in Mexico, came to me without fear, smiling and saying what a wonderful day it was in Vancouver.

It really was. I hope we can keep it that way forever.