We should fear most this ‘silent terrorist’

aboveBy Alex P. Vidal

“Think of the earth as a living organism that is being attacked by billions of bacteria whose numbers double every forty years. Either the host dies, or the virus dies, or both die.”— Gore Vidal

WHAT the Ilonggos should fear most during the Dinagyang Festival and even beyond the celebration is not the determined bomber feared by the Philippine National Police (PNP) who might sabotage the mammoth occasion.

It is the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), the “silent terrorist” that is reportedly spreading rapidly in China and is now feared to have “arrived” in the Philippines and has victimized several people all over the country.

In fact, hundreds of people have been diagnosed with this deadly virus, even as scientists have confirmed that the virus can be spread human to human.

Already several patients suspected of being infected by the deadly virus were reported recently in Kalibo, Aklan, where the biggest Ati-ati festival is scheduled this month together with Iloilo City which has kicked off its celebration of the Dinagyang Festival this week.

We just hope it was a false alarm.

This must be the reason why the Department of Health (DoH) in Western Visayas has issued a warning to all those who will join the crowd during the celebration of the feast of Senor Santo Nino.

The virus should be considered by all and sundry to be “a clear and present danger” and all precautions must be made to avoid this virus.

We shouldn’t let our guards down.

 

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FROM miles away in New York City, we share the same fears and concerns here.

As we monitored the ongoing impeachment trial of President Trump in the U.S. Senate yesterday (January 21), we received reports that the virus has been confirmed to be in the United States, as simultaneously reported in the CNN and The New York Times.

A person in Washington state has been reportedly confirmed to be carrying coronavirus by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention January 21 afternoon.

Federal officials said the same person was reported to be hospitalized with pneumonia last week and was recently in Wuhan, China.

Wuhan is believed to be ground zero for the outbreak.

The person has not been identified by name and it is reportedly the first case of coronavirus being found in the U.S.

As of this writing we received reports that passengers from Wuhan to the United States, whether on direct or indirect flights, will only be allowed to land at one of the five U.S. airports doing health screenings. Screenings include a temperature check and observation for symptoms such as a cough and trouble breathing.

 

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What is coronavirus and what do we all need to know about the illness?

Here are six things we should be aware of as reported:

1. Coronavirus is actually a group of viruses that can cause a cold or something severe like the Middle East respiratory syndrome, known as MERS, severe acute respiratory syndrome, known as SARS. The World Health Organization says symptoms are similar to pneumonia symptoms.

The initial symptoms include fever, cough, tightness of the chest and shortness of breath.

2. Normally they’re transmitted from animal to humans, but 2019-nCoV is apparently able to be transmitted between humans. At least two people were infected that way. But there are other coronaviruses in animal populations but have not been transmitted to humans.
3. The World Health Organization is considering declaring a public health emergency, similar to what it did with Ebola and swine flu, the BBC reported. If the declaration happens, a coordinated international response will follow.
4. At least 15 medical workers are infected with 2019-nCoV and one is in critical condition. They are believed to have contracted the illness from treating patients who were kept in isolation, but that has not been confirmed.
5. While the 2019-nCoV was traced back to a seafood market that also sells live animals in Wuhan, China last year, there are a few cases outside of China including two in Thailand, one in Japan, one in South Korea and one in Taiwan. Those cases are linked to the same area in China. To make sure the illness doesn’t spread further, travelers from Wuhan are being screened worldwide including at airports in San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York.

Testing was scheduled to be expanded to Atlanta and Chicago.

6. People are taking measures to protect themselves from exposure to the virus. Medical-style face masks are sold out in China. Many people in Wuhan are wearing face coverings as they go about their day.

 

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo)