The Malthus Pandemic

by Terry Morgan

CHAPTER 24

  Kevin Parker arrived home at his Clifton, Bristol flat with a headache from the afternoon in the One Tun with Tunje Fayinke. He was also feeling hungry. No food had passed his lips since the half-eaten burger at lunchtime. But, knowing he wouldn't be able to sleep if he turned in, he walked to a late night local Indian take-away, bought himself a chicken biriani and rice and, as he sat on the kitchen floor eating it, logged onto the internet on his laptop.

  He checked a few emails, deleted them all and then logged onto the WHO, Geneva website. And, yes, there it was - a so-called Disease Outbreak Notification - a DON. And, just as he and Tunje had read earlier in the discarded and crumpled copy of the Daily Mail, there was the confirmation.

  "............WHO is currently investigating reports of an outbreak of respiratory infections with similar symptoms to the Thai cases in Kano State, Northern Nigeria and one case in Kenya. The number of associated deaths in Nigeria is unknown. The Kenyan patient is known to have died.................."

  The only difference was that the Daily Mail seemed to know the deaths in Nigeria amounted to over a hundred. The WHO, on the other hand, seemed unwilling to put a figure on it.

  Kevin, spooned in the last mouthful of chicken biriani, wiped his mouth and then logged onto his Malthus Society website.

  Nothing much had happened since the day before. There was only one message from the Boston USA group announcing their next meeting and giving details of a lecture on drought in Sub Saharan Africa to be given at Boston University. Someone calling themselves "day-owl" - Kevin had no idea who it was - had left a message. "Don't go - let there be drought" Kevin smiled.

  Using his own sign of "Thalmus" he typed: "Check out WHO DON. Anyone know anything?"

  Then he logged off.

  The American Embassy in Nigeria was based in Abuja, but Lagos was still the centre of US Commercial Services. Larry Brown, a fresher in consular circles, was still struggling to understand how, as a black, American doctor, he could best serve the commercial services team.

  It was only mid morning and he was already staring out of the window looking for inspiration. Yes, he had the job description which provided for a good deal of freedom to do what he liked and he also had the salary. What Larry was missing was focus. Not only that but his energy had started to return and Larry wanted some action.

  Behind him, staring at computer screens, sat three commercial specialists - Nigerian nationals who were divided up into industry sectors and did their best to answer queries from US companies, guide them through Nigerian bureaucracy and organise meetings and trade shows.

  On Larry's healthcare sector was Joseph Eke. But Joseph also had franchising, printing and consumer electronics to deal with and Joseph had come straight out of University with a degree in IT. Larry already knew that Joseph only liked the consumer electronics part of his job. He was also probably angling for a future job with an American IT company.

  "Joseph," Larry called out, still looking out of the window and with his back to the room, "Can't we run a healthcare trade exhibition some time? The Ambassador says he wouldn't even send his dog to see a doctor in Nigeria. Can't we bring in a few good US companies, focus on the private sector, show them some decent equipment, proper medicines. Perhaps even bring in an American vet or two?"

  Larry turned. As it seemed Joseph had not heard him, he coughed deliberately and pretended to be choking. At last, Joseph and the two other commercial specialists looked up.

  "Got any medicine for a bad cough, Joseph? Do I need a chest X ray? Was that a first sign of TB? What hospital should I go to in Lagos and know I was being taken good care of?"

  Joseph grinned over the top of his computer screen.

  "Did you hear me just then, Joseph? Jo?"

  "Yes, Larry, you said something about trade exhibitions."

  "Good man. So what about it?"

  "They don't like coming here, Larry. It's not a priority. They prefer to focus on China, Brazil, Russia and India. Nigeria is not on their radar."

  Larry turned to look out of the window again but then turned just his head around. Joseph had already returned to staring at his screen. "That's exactly what I thought, Jo. Carry on."

  Two minutes later, Larry coughed again."Got a decent directory of US pharmaceutical companies, Jo? And please don't point me towards Google."

  Joseph pointed towards a book-shelf with his thumb whilst still staring at his screen.

  Larry found the directory, went across the room for a cup of water from the machine, sat behind his allocated desk and, in an hour, had circled in red pen, thirty US healthcare companies. Then he checked their websites.

  At five, Joseph and the others got up to go home. Larry, with no particular place to go, stayed. He sent a few emails, telling the companies who he was and what he wanted. Then he went out for a coffee and came back to check for any replies. As there weren't any and it was still midday or earlier in the USA he went through his list again and directly phoned companies in New York, Atlanta, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Boston.

  Finally, by 9pm Larry had some names.