Panic over influenza

Several hundred children in Metro Manila have been stricken ill with influenza, causing jitters about germ warfare. If the infection had occurred at another time, it would have been taken as one of those recurrent flu outbreaks we had experienced in the past. But the nerves of people all over the world are frazzled following the terrorist attacks in the United States.

National Security Adviser Roilo Golez assured the public that the country was not the target of any biochemical attack by terrorists. But he said the rumor of such an attack was being spread by "anti-American groups" to frighten the government into withdrawing its support from the international coalition waging war on terrorism.

The withdrawal of the Philippines' commitment to the anti- terrorist campaign is out of the question. The prospects of this country being the first target of germ or chemical warfare are grossly exaggerated -- unless we fancy ourselves as key players in the coalition. If the terrorists launch germ or chemical attacks, they would do it on targets that will produce maximum impact and in countries which are on the frontline of military preparations to strike at terrorist networks.

-- The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila