2004 Asaunese Flu Epidemic

The **2004 Asaunese Flu Epidemic** was a major flu epidemic that took place in Asauna from March 18, 2004, to February 18, 2005, when it was declared over. It infected 40% of the country's population (11 million at the time), with 4,435,354 at the end of the epidemic, and killed more than at least 88,000. There were also isolated smaller outbreaks in Neopalita, Tikal Island, and Kelly Island, with the latter having the most cases out of all three, with a recorded 1,162 cases at the end of 2004. It is considered the worst flu outbreak to occur on the island.

## Impact

The 2004 Asaunese Flu Epidemic forced all non-essential businesses to close completely and all events to be postponed or even cancelled as a result of the epidemic. A nationwide lockdown was imposed on March 18, 2004, the same day the epidemic was declared. The lockdown lasted until the epidemic ended on February 18, 2005.

Social distancing and mask wearing were made mandatory nationwide shortly after the lockdown took place, and these are still practiced on the island to this day. Since 2005, it is illegal to ride public transportation without wearing a mask and riding in the front section is restricted to immunocompromised citizens. The Federal Epidemic Prevention Act of 2004 required that all businesses set up plexiglass barriers and added a capacity limit of 100 in all nonessential businesses to control outbreaks. All stores are required to have security gates to limit guests and prevent future epidemics from taking place on the island again. These practices helped Asauna to keep rather low cases during much of the COVID-19 pandemic that occurred years later.

Asaunese schools had to close during the epidemic and homeschooling skyrocketed throughout the island and it remained that way until November 2004 when students could finally go back into the classroom but with plexiglass barriers, mask wearing, social distancing, and rigorous cleaning protocols.

March 18 is National Epidemic Memorial Day, which is a federal holiday remembering the lives lost to Asaunese Flu. A memorial was built in 2005 in New Mildred near an airport where the outbreak first began, which closed in 2004 and is now one of the island's historic landmarks. King Simmons plans to close all government buildings on March 18, 2022, in honor of the 18th anniversary of the epidemic, and schools across the island are expected to undergo a moment of silence for five minutes as all students learn about the epidemic and how it impacted the island so that the same mistake doesn't happen again.

Since the mandate of masks throughout the island continued after the epidemic, many fashion designers routinely make masks of various styles, colors, and designs. Citizens can buy a mask from any fashion store within the island and there are free mask dispensers throughout densely populated areas.

## Legacy

The epidemic marks the first time that the flu has entered the Western Outer Region. Previously, the region did not experience flu cases except in isolated foreigners, who were contained. Asauna and other island countries implemented stricter travel entry regulations in response to the 2004 epidemic and many of them require tourists to quarantine before entering.