Swine flu nearly stopped us from going back to England this summer. It was late July and the country was experiencing over 100,000 cases a week. Pregnant women and young children were particularly at risk. In the end we decided to go. The atmosphere was strange - surgical masks everywhere and people constantly disinfecting their hands with wipes. And this was England, a place where people usually dismiss illnesses as nothing serious. The French, with a pharmacy on every corner, have a different attitude. The smallest scratch requires bedrest and ten different medicines.
What might happen in France if the flu reaches the same level? Well as yet France is way down the list of effected countries and yet outside the school gates on the first day of term I spotted one mother with a surgical mask on. She looked ridiculous, but I predict within a week the trend will catch on. Already there have been mutterings about the french government shutting down all schools to combat the virus.
My advice - buy shares in French surgical mask manufacturers.
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