Viruses are scary things. However, nations must not be allowed to keep news surrounding these outbreaks secret. We must know what's going on in China or other former communist Asian countries whose governments care only for money. Instead of caring for money, these countries should take responsibility, set up a plan to compensate farmers for the losses brought about by bird flu and educate them in order to avoid more outbreaks of the disease.
And as long as China hasn't educated its population, it would be a wise move to delay the arrival of Chinese holidaymakers in Taiwan, which as of today remains virus-free.
Life is dangerous and we all have to deal with it. The best way to deal with it is to use common sense, which is gained from experience of life. Viruses are scary, for sure, but don't let the media scare you or focus your attention on only one problem. Right now folks are all worked up about bird flu while 2 million people die each year from tuberculosis.
Multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB) is on the increase and very hard to treat. Regarding the avian flu epidemic, as far as we know, it emerged in Asia and millions of birds have so far been killed. That means the public must avoid visiting chicken farms or markets in infected areas because nearly all confirmed cases have been among people in Asia handling chickens and the source has not yet been eradicated.
It's the same old story, similar things seem to be happening again, provoking strange feelings of deja-vu. Remember SARS?
If a government doesn't care about improving the living conditions of its population, people can only survive, and the mentality of a survivor is to be selfish, irresponsible and careless about things such as hygiene and the environment, but it's not the people's fault, their government's short-sighted policies are to blame. Money is not everything. Public health is the most important issue for any government. So let us demand that our government not forget its responsibility.
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