The flu is always seen as an afterthought disease which will just subside after a few days of rest, water therapy and a good dose of paracetamol. But when news of the dreaded swine flu broke out a few months ago, the entire world was caught in hysteria and paranoia. After all past strains of the flu virus were so deadly that it wiped out hundreds and thousands in the past.
However, times have changed a bit and technology is much more efficient and advanced. This is why there have been many coping mechanisms during the past couple of weeks. There were the numerous infomercials and social advocacies through alternative platforms such as social media. There were also more stringent means to try to defeat the pandemic.
One of these is the use of virtual worlds.
Dutch scientific minds designed a 3D environment video game which aims to empower people from all over the world about swine flu. The game begins with pictures of patients who are either bedridden or in graveyards. These images are that of the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic which decimated a number of people during its heyday. Players, with roles as the head of the World Pandemic Control, will aim to pick a flu strain and monitor its progress to the entire world.
“It is actually what is happening now, what is happening in the real world,” said Albert Osterhaus, head of virology at the Erasmus Medical Center, who designed The Great Flu game with colleagues.
Of course we know the game’s antagonist as clearly the swine flu outbreak. Now what are the game play mechanics? Basically, players can choose from surveillance systems, antiviral and vaccine collections and quarantines of crucial infrastructures such as airports and schools to combat the disease. They may not sound appealing when first heard but it may be worth a try.
Like the real world, players are also given a limited budget to combat this pandemic with a stern warning “your actions to control the virus cost money, so keep an eye on it” for that authentic experience.
Virtual worlds are more than a platform for entertainment and meeting new people. It is slowly being used as a vehicle for education and empowerment. This is also a positive sign as it is using the Web 2.0 phenomenon in a very constructive way. With today’s technology, it is easier to rally people around a single message or advocacy.
Swine flu or the the H1N1 virus is a different strain of the common flu which is endemic to pigs. It caused quite a global stir when these pig-powered strains reached humans. Unlike earlier beliefs, swine flu is not acquired by eating the meat of infected pigs. Rather, its transmission is very typical to the normal flu.
Vaccines are being developed as of late but the strongest means to combat this pandemic is still arming people with knowledge and information. As wise men say, prevention is always better than the cure.
While the threat of swine flu has been significantly curbed during the last couple of months, it has still taken quite a lot of casualties with it. Vigilance is still the best weapon the people have against this disease and for any other pandemic in the future.
It is a very encouraging sign to see virtual worlds engage considerably in the fight against a real life health threat. The idea of a game may be a bit overplayed by many advocacies in the past. But it achieves its aim of harnessing the youth demographic who are so into the Web 2.0 phenomenon.
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