There’s something in
the air. And its not just love. Something viral. And its not any video, or much
shared selfie. Nor is it any of those maths question which divides the internet
.Pun unintended. And its also not a picture which fools the eyes.
In that last decade
or so, the word ‘viral’ has gone on to take a meaning of entirely its own. People
encourage it, creators tried to come up with new ‘viral’ content. So it feels strangely
awkward, when the word returns to its true meaning in the common tongue. A new
strain of deadly virus strain has emanated out of China, and has now travelled
to 24 countries, including India and Australia.
The number of people affected, cured and of those who have succumbed to the
strain varies depending on which news agency one tunes to. But the general
trend is that all three numbers are increasing. Yes, many have been cured, but
then ten times more are affected by the next wave.
The new strain has
now been named the 2019 Novel Corona
virus. But after more than 2 months of the initial infection been reported,
little is known about it more than this name. And the fact that ground zero is in
China has not helped at all. All the news and reports coming out of China has
always been heavily censored. The outside world does not get latest updates.
And the attack of fake-news has entered into exactly this vacuum. False,
unverified and hoax news about the disease now spreads faster than the strain
itself. Along with the 1500 people who already succumbed, the strain affects global
economy and supply chain networks due to misinformed fears. Countries and companies
are refusing to trade with China; many countries have already placed blockades
on flights originating from China. Travellers are warned, and are looked upon with
suspicion.
And various places
are reporting a growing behaviour of racism towards people from China. Some of
the strain related news claimed that the original hosts of the virus were bats,
or snakes, or pangolins. People in China are known to trade and eat these kind
of game animals. Most of those affected in the first viral wave where workers
in Wuhan’s
meat market. It is now proven that the virus can spread through human
contact, and it does not show symptoms for the first 14 days. This has resulted
in people in other countries just avoiding places frequented by Asians, and the
people themselves.
This is unprecedented.
And all this is fuelled by the simple fact that all of mankind’s medical science
have yet failed to identify the source of this strain, and the best ways to
prevent its spread and it sure-footed cure.
The common consensus
is that it will take he world’s scientists more months to properly identify and
create the cure. A possible vaccine. Hopefully, mankind will come together and annihilate
this freak of nature. Like how we fought SARS , and nipah. Because otherwise, the
future looks bleak for us. Medical science needs to continue to grow and co-operate
to fight these strains.
Because if there is one thing this new virus has proven
yet again, it is that we as a species, is more connected than ever before.
PS: Source of the
virus or not, IMHO, people should just stop eating bats.