So you’re worried about the recent Coronavirus outbreaks from Wuhan, China.
It’s completely OK to worry about the spread of disease. But disease absolutely does not give the right to discriminate against people because they’re Asian. A simple concept, yes, but it’s surprisingly hard for some people to understand.
Media stories are making people panic and jump to conclusions before anything solid has been established. It’s not about “fake news.” It’s about the subconscious biases people hold, and they’re just looking for evidence to validate those opinions.
Just because the virus has an epicenter in China does not mean every Asian person has contracted it or has even been to China for that matter. Practicing the assumption that every Asian person is Chinese is not only erasing people of other Asian descent. It’s a very racist generalization.
The last time China faced a similar outbreak was in November 2002, but it was the severe acute respiratory syndrome. At the time, government officials in China didn’t report the illness to the World Health Organization, and there were 774 fatalities. Around 8,000 people were infected, according to the Centers for Disease Control, but the technology of 2002 is obviously inferior to technologies of 2020. The 2002 case was also heavily impacted by the lack of action by the government due to the attempt to cover it up, but it’s different now.
China almost instantly issued a public health advisory, saying people need to stay home and barring 50 million people from traveling. Quarantining 50 million people is no small feat, and it shouldn’t go unnoticed.
This recent spread of the virus has infected fewer than a dozen people in the U.S. but more than 14,000 worldwide, with an early-estimated mortality rate of 2%. The numbers are scary, but last year, the U.S. had 35,000 people die from the common flu.
A flu vaccine exists, and if you choose to focus on the coronavirus rather than getting your flu shot, you need to reevaluate your priorities. Saying, “One time I got my flu shot and then I got the flu,” isn’t a valid excuse because you were likely exposed to it before getting the vaccine.
Here’s also a reminder that influenza vaccines aren’t 100% effective, nor are they just for yourself. In addition to strengthening your own immune system, they help protect others with weaker immune systems. If you get a flu vaccine, you’re essentially securing less severe symptoms if you were to get the flu later.
Jack Hiltner is a freshman studying strategic communication at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of columnists do not represent those of The Post. Want to talk to Jack? Tweet him @HiltnerJack.
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