In fight against virus, everyone is a soldier
- Source: The Global Times
- [18:10 May 21 2009]
- Comments
Several days ago, most cell phone users in Beijing probably received a message from their wireless carrier asking people who had flown aboard flights NW029 and 3U8882 on May 8 to report to the public health department in Beijing.
The appeal came immediately before the confirmation of the first case of the A/H1N1 virus – known commonly as swine flu – in the Chinese mainland. A Chinese student returning from the US, who flew on the two flights in question, was confirmed to have the deadly virus after he fell ill.
The scare raises an interesting question: are passengers from the flights legally bound to report themselves, or is reporting voluntary?
Chinese authorities are now in high gear searching for and tracking the 383 passengers who were on the same flights as the infected student. These passengers have now scattered throughout 21 provinces of China.
The Chinese government was criticized six years ago for responding slowly to the SARS outbreak, causing a greater loss of human life than would otherwise have occurred. This time, the government is taking action as quickly as possible to control the spread of the swine flu, but its measures have raised controversy.
Strict measures like compulsory quarantines and travel bans sometimes impact personal freedom and privacy, and spur discontent among some individuals.
But combating the virus is everyone’s duty, not just that of the government. Anyone showing symptoms of the flu is responsible for alerting authorities. Ethical requirements at this critical moment demand public cooperation.
The search for all the passengers of the two flights – including some foreigners – is now under way. A considerable number have not been tracked down or voluntarily gone to the public health authorities. They could have been out of contact for various reasons. But given the detailed coverage the Chinese media has given the issue, it’s unlikely the passengers don’t know they are being looked for.
Fear of being quarantined may be keeping some from turning themselves in. They probably don’t want to run into trouble. They may simply fear publicity and wish to maintain their privacy. But these convenient excuses put everybody else at great risk. We urge the missing passengers to identify themselves to relevant authorities as soon as possible.
The fast-moving virus has kept health officials scrambling to keep up. Extreme measures like stricter surveillance, closure of borders or public places, and banning pork imports from infected countries, may be adopted.
How to effectively stop the H1N1 virus while minimizing the disruptions caused for common citizens is a serious question for both the government and the public.