panic over pandemic

                                       Panic over pandemic

The recent swine flu, anticipated by some as a potential pandemic after SARS, however, hasn’t stirred up turbulence in the endemic-prone southeast asia .

 Empirical based research has revealed that viruses gain infectiousness at the expense of virulence. the more infectious a virus is, the less virulent it will be. Being no exemption,  swine flu, though  much more infectious than SARS, kills far less people than SARS did, partly due to an more effective and experienced  reaction of more scrupulous precautions and scientific medical treatments,  but also testifying an indication of a relatively diminutive virulence. We are quite fortunate for  having dodge a wave of fearsome flu. But we are much concerned that whether our science and technology can evolve as fast as the mutation of viruses to preclude the pandemic of  that in 30’s. 

why do endemics take place so frequently in recent years? Compared with the explanation engaged in globally environmental decline and climate fluctuation, I tend to stand on that it’s not because current environment is more suitable for viruses’ breed , which can be validated by historical record and statistics. but because nowadays with increasing awareness of basic human rights, natural disasters in every nook and cranny on earth, even some accidents will step in global limelight so we are more aware and alert to any dangers lurking around us, around us in the sense that the globe has become a rather small place.

Are our science and tech dependable? Though numerous previously incurable diseases have been subdued to medical science and tech, we are confronted with a plethora of new diseases we know little about at a unprecedentedly high rate every day. Some claim that science and technology are exploiting our planet relentlessly and dangerously and contribute to this woeful situation.  The cumulative effect of perennial chemical emissions, artificial mutations, nuclear leakage, laboratory accidents, etc testifies this concern. Whether this accusation is mischievous I know not, but it seems that we can only depend on progress in science and technology to protect us against natural animosities. We may not expect that the side effect of science and technology can be eliminated by government or academic institutions. Usually, scientists and technologists always are immersed in discovery and creativity, discerning little about what their work will bring out to the society. And usually it’s merchants who relentlessly seek the profitability from these achievements and turn them into massive productivity, with the approval from their representatives in the government, regardless of the detrimental influence. We may expect that government will responsibly strike a reciprocally beneficial balance between the interests of small groups and that of the missives.

By chance, we may be infected with a lethal flu, and by chance we may not. Promoting hygiene conditions of ourselves, distrusting restaurants and hotels however opulent and avoiding excessively unnecessary physical interactions may take effect in reducing the possibility we are infected. I don’t know whether the treatment of an endemic is free of charge. I hope it is.