In our last missive I decried the residual resistance to vaccine uptake in parts of the wealthy west, as well as its hesitant to their juveniles. Even more pertinently we worried about the limited availability and constrained distribution of vaccines within developing countries. Such were likely to see new, potentially more threatening, variants emerge. And sadly so it proved. Most of Africa trails far behind the rest of the world in terms of vaccination rates, whilst several countries there still have outrageously high numbers of individuals infected with controlled) HIV whose defining nature enables other viruses to multiply to horrendous densities, thereby, mathematically, increasing the probability of new mutations arising. Thus, from somewhere in the soup, we saw the emergence of Omicron that, whilst it is definitely more infectious, is seemingly, thankfully, more benign. With this variant we will record – especially with the now ready availability of tests – many more positive cases, but, hopefully, there will not be a tsunami of hospitalisations and deaths. The caveat is that without expeditious global high vaccination coverage all current circulating variants have the potential to yield another that may (through further chance mutations or
genetic exhibit the worst aspects of those already (or yet to be) present: i.e. incredibly high transmission coupled with severe virulence as well as vaccine escape. With the Omicron variant we may have fortuitously dodged that terrifying scenario, but there is no room Still Im ahead of myself.
In Laos the end of September saw a development: we now – finally - had confirmed cases spread. And, not slow to respond, the capital Vientiane swiftly entered into a proper lockdown; indeed public transport countrywide was suspended with movement out of your province (by personal transport) requiring the nai bans (local chiefs) permission and any journey, however short, necessitating justification. Predictably this coincided with us needing to head an hour up the road to Salavan – same province - for a visa run. Fortunately Poh, along with M&M, also had reasons for making the trip and so off we tootled in the school bus. Just shy of town there was a roadblock and we were flagged down. Poh merely shrugged as he alighted, even without restrictions Police on the make are not on this stretch of road. Seconds later he was back.
Yes, we could continue; no they hadnt required a monetary bribe; but he had promised to provision them with four cans of Red Bull and half a dozen packs of spicy prawn crisps upon our return.
Several weeks later the restrictions were lifted, as long as you were not travelling to/from a region currently experiencing an outbreak. Thus M&M headed to Pakse for their postponed R&R trip and we found ourselves house and puppy sitting.
Rainy season had assuredly arrived and a pattern of hot steamy mornings, followed by torrential afternoon downpours that thundered upon the tin roofs before morphing into tranquil balmy evenings, ensued.
Having enjoyed the use of their kitchen, not least that almost forgotten mystical appliance, an oven; and having overseen the continued of Pukey (mum) and pups, before you could say new litter we were back at Sipasert and Lulu, little more than eight months old, was popping out her first brood.
There had been talk of Thailand opening up and indeed for those vaccinated individuals arriving by plane and heading to a limited number of sand box destinations who were
prepared to jump through the necessary quarantine/testing hoops, it was. But, the Thais stuttering vaccination rate and stubbornly high number of active infections was not going to see the land borders flung open any time soon.
One afternoon Pancake appeared brandishing a cardboard box. Inside was a tiny ball of fluff, a baby rabbit.
