The escalation of the number of infected and dead caused by corona virus are accompanied by growing restrictions for the public are bound to create panic among our population. Relatively new terms like ‘pandemic‘ or ‘quarantine’ are new for many and details of their meaning have not been properly explained to the larger public with the result that the realization of the seriousness of the situation and the proper understanding of the remedies offered or insisted upon is lacking. Especially in far-flung areas like the interior of Sindh and others with low levels of education and health facilities such understanding is missing. For instance, it was reported that a number of pilgrims who were placed in isolation in Sukkur after their return from Iran broke out of the quarantine centre on Saturday. According to reports, they came out of the quarantine centre to protest lack of adequate facilities and were complaining about not being able to see their families. A Shia cleric was reportedly involved in instigating them to escape the centre to lodge their protest.
When communicating the current crisis, we have to also remember the fact of previous pandemics in order to understand the severity of the current one and the lessons that need to be learned. One such example is the 1918 flu pandemic, a deadly influenza pandemic lasting from January 1918 through December 1920 -that gives a hint about the timeline that could be in front of us today. That pandemic that is called ‘Spanish flu’ sometimes infected 500 million people-about a quarter of the world’s population at the time. The death toll is estimated to have been anywhere from 17 million to 50 million, and possibly as high as 100 million, making it one of the deadliest epidemics in human history. Scientists offer several possible explanations for the high mortality rate of the 1918 influenza pandemic. A 2007 analysis of medical journals from the period of the pandemic found that though the viral infection was no more aggressive than previous influenza strains but malnourishment, overcrowded medical camps and hospitals, and poor hygiene promoted bacterial superinfection. This superinfection killed most of the victims, typically after a somewhat prolonged death bed.
The next virus and pandemic will come for sure. We have to prepare our population for it and create institutions that can deal with the outfall when it comes
Next came the 2009 flu pandemic or swine flu which was an influenza pandemic that lasted from January 2009 to August 2010 and was caused by the same H1N1 influenza virus but had developed a new strain. 11-21% of the global population at the time – or around 700 million-1.4 billion people (out of a total of 6.8 billion) – contracted the illness – more than the number of people infected by the Spanish flu pandemic ,but with about 150,000-575,000 fatalities only given the advanced medical relief available at the time.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) was a viral respiratory disease caused by the SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV) that is related to the current corona virus-2. Between November 2002 and July 2003, an outbreak of SARS in southern China caused an eventual 8,098 cases, resulting in 774 deaths reported in 17 countries (9.6% fatality rate) with the majority of cases in mainland China and Hong Kong. No cases of SARS have been reported worldwide since 2004.
All these epidemics despite all efforts to prevent them have been re-occurring after a while though caused by slightly modified or an entirely different virus. The preventive measures for all those different outbreaks have been the same: Strong immune system, frequent and thorough hand-washing, disinfection of surfaces, avoiding contact with bodily fluids, and general cleanliness of the body, cloths, dishes and other items. In addition, keeping children with symptoms home from school and self-isolation have been recommended before. Viruses and generally all illnesses will attack vulnerable people most. That could be young or old but the main factor is strong immune system that can fight back in case of an attack. Malnutrition, overweight, environmental hazards like air and water pollution are weakening the human immune system and make us more susceptible to infection. Thus, healthy food and life style are required for all.
What does that mean for us today? In the first place it means that the current pandemic might take months if not a year to subside and that has to be taken into consideration when thinking about the remedies, especially in the economic sphere. While one can bridge an emergency for a couple of weeks, this will last longer and accordingly measures taken for instance support packages for daily wagers and industries, have to keep that in mind. Secondly, the reality of viruses has to be brought home to our population. There are millions of types of viruses in the environment and they have been there for thousands of years; viruses are found in almost every ecosystem on Earth and are most numerous types of biological entity. They spread in many ways. One transmission pathway is through disease-bearing organisms known as vectors: for example, viruses are often transmitted from plant to plant by insects that feed on plant sap; and viruses in animals can be carried by blood-sucking insects. Influenza viruses are spread by coughing and sneezing. Norovirus and rotavirus, common causes of viral gastroenteritis, are transmitted by the faecal-oral route, passed by contact and entering the body in food or water. HIV is one of several viruses transmitted through sexual contact and by exposure to infected blood. Viruses are surrounding us and many of them are dangerous for humans. One central remedy that prevents us from falling ill is hygiene. There is a need to teach not only children but adults as well in how to observe cleanliness and hygiene. That starts from throwing trash in the streets but does not stop there. It has to be taught in schools to children and to adults through media. But most importantly, the pre-conditions for cleanliness have to be created by the state and its institutions. Flowing and clean water has to be available to all. No home, school or official building can be complete without properly installed washrooms and the provision of water to them. Quarantining people without providing them the possibility to wash hands keep themselves clean is counterproductive; it will promote the spread of the virus among the detained and one should not blame them for trying to run away.
After this pandemic will have subsided, we cannot go back to business as usual. The next virus and pandemic will come for sure. We have to prepare our population for it and create institutions that can deal with the outfall when it comes. Strong and well-run state institutions will restore the trust in the state and more disciplined citizens have less calms to follow the rules issued. Globalization has raised the danger of spreading viruses but isolation is not viable on the long run. And one realization has to come home to all of us: viruses have no ethnicity or citizenship; they are neither Chinese nor gora. This is one world and one humanity and all deserve to live.
Dr Bettina Robotka, former Professor of South Asian Studies, Humboldt University, Berlin