Thoughts on Coronavirus
So.
There's coronavirus now.
This week, it’s impossible to escape references to the dreaded coronavirus. Walking through the halls of my school, I overhear jokes about it, students keeping each other up to date (Did you hear it’s in Illinois now? Oh my god, that’s like next door!) and lamenting that their spring break plans are cancelled. I myself have done all three of those.
A few days ago, I found out that the UNICEF summit in Washington D.C., which I was so looking forward to, has been postponed due to the outbreak. My dad is even stocking up the emergency food supply in our house!
But COVID-19 is more than an inconvenience. To many around the world, it is a clear and present danger to both physical health and their financial situation.
In public speaking class, my teacher out of the blue asked us for our thoughts on the coronavirus. We all shrugged and waited for someone else to respond first, but since then I’ve reflected a bit and here’s my two cents.
The media attention surrounding the outbreak reminds me that even in an age with such advanced technology and medical know-how, the human race is very vulnerable when it comes to diseases. It’s not just coronavirus— remember Ebola, or Zika?
In fact, the leading global infectious disease killer is currently tuberculosis (TB). This is a highly contagious bacterial disease affecting the lungs, and in 2016 it was the #10 cause of death worldwide. Wait, wait… why is no one talking about this? TB kills so many people, but in America, people seem to think of it as a disease of poverty and a disease of the past.
And then there are other diseases like pneumonia, polio, rotavirus, and more. Fortunately, while COVID-19 doesn’t have a vaccine yet, we actually do have vaccines for these other diseases, and they work! For example, global immunization efforts have reduced measles deaths by 84% since 2000, which is over 20 million lives saved, according to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
None of this is to diminish the impact of the current coronavirus situation. It’s serious, scary, and deserves the international attention it’s receiving. I just hope that as people take notice of coronavirus, it will be a chance to increase public awareness of global health in general, rather than drawing sorely-needed funds away from other programs in health. There are many pieces to this puzzle, and strengthening health systems and support can help us tackle all the outbreaks we face.
So be sure to wash your hands! Enjoy this TikTok demonstrating the proper technique based on a Vietnamese PSA...
There's coronavirus now.
 |
This week, it’s impossible to escape references to the dreaded coronavirus. Walking through the halls of my school, I overhear jokes about it, students keeping each other up to date (Did you hear it’s in Illinois now? Oh my god, that’s like next door!) and lamenting that their spring break plans are cancelled. I myself have done all three of those.
A few days ago, I found out that the UNICEF summit in Washington D.C., which I was so looking forward to, has been postponed due to the outbreak. My dad is even stocking up the emergency food supply in our house!
 |
| If COVID-19 is the beginning of the apocalypse, we are ready... with many cans of soup |
But COVID-19 is more than an inconvenience. To many around the world, it is a clear and present danger to both physical health and their financial situation.
In public speaking class, my teacher out of the blue asked us for our thoughts on the coronavirus. We all shrugged and waited for someone else to respond first, but since then I’ve reflected a bit and here’s my two cents.
The media attention surrounding the outbreak reminds me that even in an age with such advanced technology and medical know-how, the human race is very vulnerable when it comes to diseases. It’s not just coronavirus— remember Ebola, or Zika?
In fact, the leading global infectious disease killer is currently tuberculosis (TB). This is a highly contagious bacterial disease affecting the lungs, and in 2016 it was the #10 cause of death worldwide. Wait, wait… why is no one talking about this? TB kills so many people, but in America, people seem to think of it as a disease of poverty and a disease of the past.
And then there are other diseases like pneumonia, polio, rotavirus, and more. Fortunately, while COVID-19 doesn’t have a vaccine yet, we actually do have vaccines for these other diseases, and they work! For example, global immunization efforts have reduced measles deaths by 84% since 2000, which is over 20 million lives saved, according to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
None of this is to diminish the impact of the current coronavirus situation. It’s serious, scary, and deserves the international attention it’s receiving. I just hope that as people take notice of coronavirus, it will be a chance to increase public awareness of global health in general, rather than drawing sorely-needed funds away from other programs in health. There are many pieces to this puzzle, and strengthening health systems and support can help us tackle all the outbreaks we face.
So be sure to wash your hands! Enjoy this TikTok demonstrating the proper technique based on a Vietnamese PSA...
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