SARS and irratioality

SARS and irratioality

From Koran Tempo

The mass media has been reporting on the fast spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in some countries in the world, including Indonesia. The media also reported that there are some people here infected with the virus, while another report revealed that a woman migrant worker suspected of having caught the disease had refused to be treated.

Extensive reporting on the disease has prompted many city people to wear masks, which are available at affordable prices on the market, to guard against infections, and has also prompted the government to take precautionary measures.

However, many others have begun to act irrationally to ward off the illness: They have used vinegar and green vegetables. As a result, the two items are becoming hard to find in the market because they are believed to be able to improve the body's immune system.

Many shops, vendors and drugstores are making a lot of money from selling thousands of masks every day.

I am beginning to suspect that all this is only a trick to divert our attention from the American invasion. Since the spread of the disease, China has been isolated and its economy shaken -- a great blow for the Chinese.

Our government should have calmed the public so that they do not act irrationally. Perhaps they can just say that SARS is not that deadly and is preventable.

TAUFIK KARMADI, Jakarta