http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/20186/information-about-flu-vital
Information about flu vital
Published: 14/07/2009 at 12:00 AM
There is a growing perception and public unease that the government and health authorities are doing a poor job of managing the influenza epidemic. It may be partly unjustified, but the public believes that from Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on down, both the politicians and health experts have failed in their two main duties. They have not communicated with a worried public, nor have they stemmed the spread of the A (H1N1) virus. There are now hundreds of new cases of swine flu each day, and leaders must reassess and begin to level with the country.
The sorry fact is that no credible spokesman has reassured an understandably nervous public. The speed with which this flu emerged from Mexico and became a pandemic clearly unnerved authorities in this country. As the H1N1 virus spread into North America, then to the South and now into Asia, the operative phrase day after day was "no need to panic". Mr Abhisit said it, the Minister of Public Health Witthaya Kaewparadai and his deputy Manit Nopamornbodi said it. The public should not panic, said the senior bureaucrats at the ministry.
The problem is that these officials are seen to have panicked. From the start, despite the unconvincing denial by the prime minister, senior officials colluded to keep facts from the media and public.
These efforts ranged from the clearly frightened orders by Mr Witthaya to muzzle provincial health authorities, to the absurd suggestion last week by doctors at Chulalongkorn Hospital that the national borders be closed to prevent the spread of the epidemic. It is impossible to seal the country anyhow, but any effort to stop all trade and travel would plunge the country into chaos.
A classic case of panic was the order last week by the Public Health Ministry to close tutoring schools. A close second was the declaration by the Culture Ministry that computer game centres were spreading influenza. Neither decision was backed by study or facts.
Far more strangers are jammed into the average public transport vehicle every day - bus, skytrain, subway, train and plane - not to mention regular classrooms and public meetings.
Meanwhile, assurances that the government will "do something" now go unbelieved. Long ago, a campaign should have been launched to inform the public to wash their hands frequently. While that message was hammered home, doctors and credible officials could have provided other hints. For example, it is more useful to remember not to touch your face than it is to wear a mask.
The H1N1 outbreak is a serious threat to the country. Many seem reassured that the mortality rate of the swine flu is somewhat low, about 0.4%, and then only by people already weakened by other disease or infirmity seem at deadly risk. But the strength of the flu is growing. With hundreds of new infections each day, the disease could cripple commerce, education, tourism and other sectors even without a high death rate.
The greatest dangers, however, are ignorance and fear. The opposition's calls for the resignation of Mr Witthaya as health minister are still premature, but it is true the minister has not done much to address the public's worry about such a serious health threat.
Constant reassurances to remain calm only stoke cynicism that the minister and his staff simply don't know how to proceed. That is wrong. The H1N1 outbreak is not mysterious, but the government and top health experts have failed to inform the public.
Information about flu vital
Published: 14/07/2009 at 12:00 AM
There is a growing perception and public unease that the government and health authorities are doing a poor job of managing the influenza epidemic. It may be partly unjustified, but the public believes that from Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on down, both the politicians and health experts have failed in their two main duties. They have not communicated with a worried public, nor have they stemmed the spread of the A (H1N1) virus. There are now hundreds of new cases of swine flu each day, and leaders must reassess and begin to level with the country.
The sorry fact is that no credible spokesman has reassured an understandably nervous public. The speed with which this flu emerged from Mexico and became a pandemic clearly unnerved authorities in this country. As the H1N1 virus spread into North America, then to the South and now into Asia, the operative phrase day after day was "no need to panic". Mr Abhisit said it, the Minister of Public Health Witthaya Kaewparadai and his deputy Manit Nopamornbodi said it. The public should not panic, said the senior bureaucrats at the ministry.
The problem is that these officials are seen to have panicked. From the start, despite the unconvincing denial by the prime minister, senior officials colluded to keep facts from the media and public.
These efforts ranged from the clearly frightened orders by Mr Witthaya to muzzle provincial health authorities, to the absurd suggestion last week by doctors at Chulalongkorn Hospital that the national borders be closed to prevent the spread of the epidemic. It is impossible to seal the country anyhow, but any effort to stop all trade and travel would plunge the country into chaos.
A classic case of panic was the order last week by the Public Health Ministry to close tutoring schools. A close second was the declaration by the Culture Ministry that computer game centres were spreading influenza. Neither decision was backed by study or facts.
Far more strangers are jammed into the average public transport vehicle every day - bus, skytrain, subway, train and plane - not to mention regular classrooms and public meetings.
Meanwhile, assurances that the government will "do something" now go unbelieved. Long ago, a campaign should have been launched to inform the public to wash their hands frequently. While that message was hammered home, doctors and credible officials could have provided other hints. For example, it is more useful to remember not to touch your face than it is to wear a mask.
The H1N1 outbreak is a serious threat to the country. Many seem reassured that the mortality rate of the swine flu is somewhat low, about 0.4%, and then only by people already weakened by other disease or infirmity seem at deadly risk. But the strength of the flu is growing. With hundreds of new infections each day, the disease could cripple commerce, education, tourism and other sectors even without a high death rate.
The greatest dangers, however, are ignorance and fear. The opposition's calls for the resignation of Mr Witthaya as health minister are still premature, but it is true the minister has not done much to address the public's worry about such a serious health threat.
Constant reassurances to remain calm only stoke cynicism that the minister and his staff simply don't know how to proceed. That is wrong. The H1N1 outbreak is not mysterious, but the government and top health experts have failed to inform the public.