Epidemic as a Mirror on Society

In a recent blog, I said that the coronavirus wasn’t an epidemic yet, regardless of the panic and fear. Sadly, now it’s official, writes Ed Yong: the WHO declared it a “public-health emergency of international concern” (PHEIC) — a designation that puts it in the same bucket as the infamous epidemics of H1N1 swine flu, polio, Ebola, Zika, and Ebola again. In his article, Yong focusses on the following aspect:

“Each epidemic is also different, and each is a mirror that reflects the society it affects.”

Let’s explore that line in detail.

Coronavirus seems to be spreading at a blistering pace compared even to SARS, which for all the hue and cry, infected 8,100 people in 8 months. But that’s not an apples to apples comparison, say many. Back then in 2002-03, the world didn’t know how fast and how wide a new virus could spread. Today, we have panic, which leads to more people checking in for anything resembling the symptoms. Plus, the number of people flying across the world has doubled since SARS.

On the plus side, the speed of analysis has improved exponentially:

“Zika spread through the Americas for 16 months before anyone even knew it was there. Ebola spread through West Africa for several months before any researcher managed to sequence its genes. But this time, in a matter of weeks, researchers recognized a new respiratory virus in the middle of flu season, identified it as a coronavirus, isolated it, sequenced its genome dozens of times over.”

Added to that:

“Researchers can share data and refine ideas faster than ever—but they’re doing so in full view of a concerned citizenry.”

Of course, all this is a double-edged sword. Anyone can start off misinterpretations and conspiracy theories:

“False reports readily cascade through channels that amplify extreme messages over accurate ones.”

All that sets off a chain of events: the “worried well” rush to hospitals, thereby making it harder for the system to treat actual cases. Visible counter-measures like face masks take a life of their own, sometimes at the cost of common sensical measures like washing hands.

Next, points out Wong, we live in a world of “anti-immigration rhetoric and isolationist politics”. That shows up in the response to the coronavirus too. Countries evacuated their citizens, issued travel bans/advisories, and cancelled visas. Even if one argues that this may be a better-safe-than-sorry response, it creates risks for the response to the epidemic:

“If countries know that they’ll be cut off during an epidemic, with all the economic repercussions that entails, they may be less likely to report future outbreaks, leading to costly delays.”

Switching tracks, let’s move to this article by Anne Quito that brings up the side-effect of the now ubiquitous face mask is having within China:

“It turns out that face masks trip up facial recognition-based functions, a technology necessary for many routine transactions in China.”

Like phone unlock. And apartment doors. And bank accounts. Which leads one to wonder just how hi-tech is China:

“Biometrics, including facial recognition, are essential to daily life in China, on a scale beyond other nations. It’s used to do everything from ordering fast food meals to scheduling medical appointments to boarding a plane in more than 200 airports across the country. Facial recognition is even used in restrooms to prevent an occupant from taking too much toilet paper.”

On the plus side though, the government can’t spot you either!

“The technology is a linchpin in the Chinese government’s scheme to police its 1.4 billion citizens.”

Just goes to show you can find fascinating stuff about everything on the Net.