OpinionLack of preparedness leaves us exposed to the risk of a nightmare like Sars
Albert Cheng argues that poor governance and a lack of resources mean Hongkongers are on their own in the face of the H7N9 threat
While news that a coronavirus genetically related to Sars has been found in the Middle East is worrying Hong Kong, the H7N9 bird flu appears to be spreading across eastern China. So far, there have been 14 confirmed cases, in Shanghai, Anhui, Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and five people have died. History seems to be repeating itself right in front of our eyes.
In November 2002, many Guangzhou residents rushed to buy vinegar and indigo woad root, a herb used in Chinese medicine, in an effort to fend off a mysterious form of pneumonia that was sweeping the province. The Guangzhou government and some medical experts tried to calm citizens by saying there was nothing to worry about. Later, when the virus spread and the situation deteriorated, it transpired that playing down the situation had inadvertently delayed treatment and prevention, making the situation worse.
At the time, the mainland authorities did not report these cases of the severe acute respiratory syndrome to the World Health Organisation and Hong Kong. So when Sars hit Hong Kong, we had no safeguards in place and the city suffered heavy casualties.
Now some are saying the new strain of bird flu is not that contagious and will not transmit from human to human.
Yet people cannot help but worry that it may be linked to the fact that 16,000 dead pigs were recently dumped in rivers in Zhejiang and Shanghai. The cities that have H7N9 cases are close to both places.
Moreover, there have been serious pneumonia cases of unknown origin surfacing in Shanghai hospitals recently, which have not been clearly explained.