Explaining the infection.

Byline: Naseem Salahuddin

SWARMS of SARS-CoV-2 virus wrack the globe, striking mortal fear of Covid-19 into the hearts of humankind. Images of disease and death flashing across our screens are heartrending, and while despair argues with hope, or denial with intelligent acceptance, decision-makers are faced with an agonising choice: death of the people or of the economy.

Alas, we have already crossed the Rubicon, and the government here has given precedence to financial advantage for the masses over ill health. Regrettably, neither is the economy visibly escalating, nor are appeals for disease control being accepted by the multitudes. Reminders, pleas and intimidation for the implementation of physical distancing, handwashing and wearing masks are falling on deaf ears.

Poverty, illiteracy and dense populations are a recipe for non-observance of these basic precautions. Rehri wallahs, thela wallahs and labourers are unlikely to change ingrained habits; what is unfortunate but not surprising is that large segments of our population remain unconvinced that the virus is real and life-threatening. Rather than indulge in blame games and recrimination, experts along with health professionals ought to address the reasonable concerns of society and plan strategies to mitigate them.

I place before our reader facts presently known in the scientific world, and how they pertain to our population. SARS-CoV-2 virus is a distant cousin of the SARS-1 virus that caused a serious outbreak of pneumonia in China in 2002-2003 and spread to several European countries, but physical distancing and masking contained further transmission.

Specialists must be given ample opportunity to explain and discuss the virus.

Similarly, MERS, first diagnosed in Saudi Arabia in 2012, spread to countries in the Middle East and still smoulders, albeit in negligible numbers. Although far fewer people were infected, the number of deaths was disproportionately high. By contrast, SARS-CoV-2 is playing havoc with lives; more people are affected because it spreads almost entirely through the upper respiratory tract, namely the nose and throat. A cough or sneeze sprays virus-laden droplets into the air; tete-a tetes or hearty laughter among friends - once thought to be the elixir of life - are now feared and shunned. Being in close proximity to a person hosting the virus and long exposure in closed spaces increase the chances of inhaling the virus. When the inhaled viral load is high and...