A Malicious Act Doesn't Help Improve the Situation

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, April 17, 2003

A Malicious Act Doesn't Help Improve the Situation

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Recently, atypical pneumonia (SARS), an epidemic disease occurred in some countries and regions, has aroused extensive public concern, many media have also reported on it. What is noteworthy is that some individual media, while reporting on related matters, lack a good-intentioned and professional attitude, they pan-politicized the matter in order to show their own "political correctness".

Take the commentary carried in the Wall Street Journal for example. It said: Regarding this disease started in south China, currently there are still many mysterious points and there is no way for its cure.

The fact is that the cause of atypical pneumonia has not been finally ascertained, so it is still impossible to determine the etiological origins of the disease. Media of South China's Guangdong Province made earlier reports on the case of atypical pneumonia, but there is no scientific basis to indicate that Guangdong is the place of origin of atypical pneumonia. Just like Aids was first reported in the United States, but one cannot say that the United States is the place of the origin of Aids. The commentary admits that there are still many points of mystery regarding atypical pneumonia, but it rashly asserts that the disease "started in south China", this shows that it is not professional enough and lacks a prudent, scientific attitude.

The commentary alleges: Even today, China still refuses to give the WHO (World Health Organization) all necessary information. The fact is: After the outbreak of SARS, Chinese departments concerned have trice invited WHO experts to come to China. This world organization gave full affirmation to the technical levels and working capabilities of Chinese specialized personnel in preventing and controlling the disease, they also highly appraised the standards and measures China has formulated for diagnosing and dealing with the disease. They believe that China's experiences and methods for preventing and treating the disease are of important reference value for various countries to control the epidemic situation.

The commentary also says: Health officials outside China are independently studying this kind of virus, attempting to stop its spread. Such an attitude of the commentator is extremely unfair to many Chinese health workers who are working hard and striving to prevent and cure the disease of SARS. As a matter of fact, the China Disease Prevention and Control Center has formulated the National Technical Program for Preventing and Treating Atypical Pneumonia, which include nine concrete standards and formulas. Before publication of the commentary, related public health campaigns had been carried out.

The atypical pneumonia is a new illness, the determination of its causative agent, pathology and contagion requires huge amounts of research work and a certain period of time. It is known to all that the determination and announcement of the epidemic situation is a matter of great prudence, in a sense it is like earthquake forecasting. Opinions and suggestions put to China with an attitude of solving problems and in a scientific and enterprising spirit are warmly welcomed. But if someone harbors any other aims and pan-politicizes the matter, that would hardly be acceptable. As to some media's assertion that atypical pneumonia is a "bacterial weapon of China", that is all the more a means used to "demonize" China and so not worth refuting.

A newly discovered infectious disease would often cause certain social panic, but scare is only a kind of reaction psychology what does not help matters. Just as an editorial of the British Financial Times said the excessive reaction by the media of various countries to atypical pneumonia and the circulation of rumors would arouse unnecessary fear and thereby lead to social and economic chaos. If this kind of panic is turned into a kind of action directed indiscriminately at a specific region or a clan group, it will all the more be an inappropriate line of action. Recently, the Canadian Prime Minister, the French Health Minister and US Senator Hillary made a special trip to Chinese-inhabited communities or had dinners there, this is an expression not only of a scientific attitude, but also of a kind of real "political correctness".

By People's Daily Online

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