SARS and people's irrationality

SARS and people's irrationality

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