Open Forum
New Delhi, 12 March
2020
Globalisation of Disease
GRIM & DARKEST SIDE
By Dr S.Saraswathi
(Former Director, ICSSR, New Delhi)
US President Donald Trump
is reported to have admitted that he would leave Americans stranded aboard the
Grand Princess cruise ship to hold Coronavirus numbers static. Such is the fear
of the disease that has gripped the entire world that the most powerful
political leader in the world does not hesitate to express his inability to
destroy the disease.
Authorities in Iran,
where about 125 deaths are reported from this virus, have warned that they may
use “force” to limit travel between cities. Iraq cancelled Friday prayers.
Schools, churches and shops are shut down in northern Italy.
The WHO has declared
the outbreak of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as a “Public Health Emergency of
International Concern” and has warned nations of a “real threat” of a
pandemic. It has urged all countries
“to make containment their highest priority”. Globalisation is exhibiting its
biggest and surest adverse impact on humanity and it is our misfortune that
this is in the field of health and wellness. It is indeed the darkest side of
globalisation.
The total number of
cases tested positive in India has reached 45 by 10 March 2020 about three
months after the outbreak of an unknown respiratory disease in Wuhan in China.
The disease has spread to 95 countries across continents and confirmed cases
exceed 100,000 presently. Over 3,500 deaths have been reported across the globe
from 94 countries. Fatality risk is estimated to be 1% globally. It is highly
possible that the actual number of the affected may be much higher than the
reported.
Universal screening
of passengers flying into India has commenced -- a move never taken before.
Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim governments banned entry of foreigners into the
State. Quarantine facilities have been
created in many railway stations. The virus spreads through contact with the
affected.
This global illness
is the biggest setback to world trade and global markets are feeling the pinch
in the worst form. Safeguarding the future of global economy is now our
priority. It is a lesson for all nations to promote local products and avoid
total dependence on imports even for essential goods. Curbs are imposed on
export of certain drugs.
An unexpected outcome
of globalisation of this disease is an unmistakable trend towards de-globalisation
in several international activities. Exports and imports heavily suffer with
the rise of suspected case of the virus. The impact may be different between
countries, but the chain effect of curbing the movement of raw materials and
finished goods and the workforce will doubtless fall on all countries. Cultural
and sports activities have to be postponed or given up, and tourism and hotel industries
will have to face heavy losses. The possibility of holding the Olympics in
Tokyo as scheduled remains in suspense.
Within countries,
large gatherings are prohibited in many places. Work from home is opted
wherever possible; schools are shut and examinations are postponed. In brief,
life with normal activities is coming to a standstill as the virus is
travelling fast. Protests and street level politics that openly defy
governments and courts will have to bow before the virus and recede.
An encouraging fact
is that in India, so far the affected cases are limited to those who have had
some contact with affected people here or abroad. Many of them have recently
travelled to China, Italy or Middle East indicating the need for preventing
contacts. Stress is placed on hygiene, and frequent cleaning of hands with soap
and simple advices about coughing and sneezing top the list of recommendations
to fight a global disease.
The Health Ministry
has an Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) network which traces
people in contact with the affected. IDSP was launched in 2004 with the
objective of strengthening/maintaining decentralised disease surveillance
system for epidemic-prone diseases to monitor disease trends and to detect and
respond to outbreaks in early rising phase through trained Rapid Respond
System. Under this, data on epidemic-prone diseases are collected on weekly
basis. However, in times of crisis, no human system, however rapid, is capable
of overtaking the pace of air-borne diseases.
According to WHO,
Coronavirus is not a pandemic now. A pandemic is worldwide spread of a new
disease meaning an epidemic spread between countries. Medically, it is a
disease that spreads very quickly and affects a large number of people over a
wide area or throughout the world.
It is explained that
diseases go through some levels. The
first is called “sporadic” when a disease occurs sporadically and
infrequently; the second is named “endemic” when a disease is constantly and/or
usually present in a geographic area and “hyper endemic” if the disease is
persistent at high level; the third is known as “epidemic” if there is sudden
increase in the number of cases of a disease much more than usual number in an
area; fourth is “pandemic” which refers to an epidemic that has spread over
several countries or continents affecting large number of people.
The Spanish Flu of
1918 is so far the deadliest pandemic that affected India as the worst in
its history of diseases when it
witnessed 10 to 20 million deaths as the focal point of the disease. There is no comprehensive study of this
pandemic which affected India in two successive waves. Believed to have originated from influenza-infected
troops returning home after World War I and spread among civilian population,
the disease was uncontrollable in the absence of effective drugs.
Reports of Sanitary
Commissioner at that time put the blame on the Railways for spreading the
disease. Today also, we are in the same position and find travel and tourism by
road, rail, air, and sea the major culprits abetting the disease. As associated
with travel, hotels, restaurants, and large gatherings are considered the major
transmitters of the Coronovirus. Following this, several advices are given on
personal and environmental cleanliness, which must have been followed epidemic
or no epidemic.
A century after the
Spanish Flu, we are still vulnerable to diseases. But, today, we have excellent
communication media to reach people. However, the danger of spreading falsehood
and rumours and creating panic among people is the pastime of several groups
which can create havoc in orderly life. We depend on medical experts to
distinguish between necessary and unnecessary precautions and between authentic
reports and exaggerated pictures of impending calamities to enlarge readership
and viewership of the media. On the other hand, under-reporting by authorities
to cover up deficiencies in their services is suspected to be the main cause
for escalation of epidemic diseases.
What makes the
situation extremely grim is lack of medicine to kill the virus. Medical
research to find a vaccine for Coronavirus must be intensified throughout the
world. Treatment of symptoms will not kill the disease. It is reported that
Chinese health authorities are for use of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in
addition to standard medicine and a strong supportive system. TCM-oriented
hospital is already functioning in Wuhan.
The disease now
spreading faster outside China than in China, all countries must look for
remedies in modern as well as indigenous medicinal system. Local remedies may
work. ---INFA
(Copyright, India
News & Feature Alliance)
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