Histerie is 'n groter vyand

Die naweek het paniek ook baie Namibiërs beetgepak weens die nuus dat ‘n vermoedelike geval van die coronavirus in Swakopmund ondersoek word.Tot toetse die teendeel bewys, is dit bloot dit: ‘n vermoede.Gesondheidsowerhede moet natuurlik voorkomingsmaatreëls tref. Hoekom sulke toetse, soos baie ander (insluitende DNS), steeds nie plaaslik gedoen kan word nie, is deel van ‘n groter wetenskaplike agterstand op eie bodem wat dringend aangespreek moet word.Gister het die Federasie van Internasionale Werkgewers (FedEE) by ander stemme aangesluit wat teen massahisterie waarsku. Volgens die organisasie moet regerings fokus op inperking en voorkoming van die coronavirus eerder as om paniek te saai gebaseer op emosie, stereotipes en Wes-teen-Oos geo-politieke oorwegings.Die media wêreldwyd het ‘n belangrike verantwoordelikheid in die verband. Feite oor die variant van griep moet in konteks gestel word.Balans verg om nie sterftes en die moontlike mutering van die virus gering te skat nie. Dit alles moet egter voortdurend in groter perspektief geplaas word.Die FedEE waarsku teen die aanblaas van vooroordele en optrede wat meer skade as goed kan doen.In die wêreldwye neutedorp sal enige virus gou versprei. Paraatheid is nodig – maar in perspektief.Histerie, die summiere sluiting van grense, kansellering van vlugte, ‘n verbod op sekere besoekers en grondelose verdagmakery aangevuur deur redelose vrese kan net bykomende paniek stook.So sê ander31 Januarie 2020Racism and exclusion can hurt as much as a virusThe news about the spread of a new virus out of the city of Wuhan in China is scary.Since the virus is new, there are still many unknowns. But according to city and state health officials, while the situation in China is being closely monitored, there is no reason for people to be overly concerned.A previous viral outbreak from China showed the ugly consequences of panic created by epidemics. In the six months of the SARS outbreak in 2003, it infected roughly 8,000 people and killed 770. In the United States, only eight people got SARS and all survived.Bottom of FormBut the panic of SARS led to a toll that does not come with influenza: racism and exclusion.Businesses in Philadelphia’s Chinatown saw sales dip by 40% to 60%. According to reporting at the time, one reason for SARS’s impact on businesses in Chinatown was internet hoaxes and rumors.The exclusion of people only because they are Chinese has already begun worldwide. None of these measures have any basis in public health — only in panic and in racism.The concern over coronavirus is understandable, but science, not stigma and exclusion, should guide both the city’s and individual’s responses.• THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER

Histerie is 'n groter vyand

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