Being interested in infectious diseases, I was a little shocked to see something today. At a restaurant, a small kid (3-4 years old by my reckoning) was playing around. At one point, he used his index finger to rub the floor (The restaurant staff was mopping the floor. Perhaps the kid was curious about the shiny and slippery surface). The Mother (I presume), carried him back to her seat. The aunt (another assumption) gave the kid a french fry. Not into the mouth of the kid, but letting him hold it by the very hand that touched the floor! You would think that with the recently outbreak of hand-foot-mouth disease, parents and guardians would be more careful.
Now. Infectious disease are scary. However, most of the time, they can be easily prevented! Simple things like avoid spitting, covering up mouth or nose when you cough or sneeze, remove stagnant water and wash your hands before eating can go a long way in keep you healthy. Alright. I hear some of you saying that what if you did your part, but others do not. I have seen people (mostly older generations, though these are only anecdotal evidence) spitting; people coughing without covering their mouth etc. I think we need more education. Things may look alright now. However, imagine if there is a influenza pandemic (Experts believe it is imminent. The only question is when it will happen.) or an outbreak of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis. Then what? Do we need really need a major event like SARS to wake us up?
Yes. People have complained about being a nanny state. The question is, how can we not be a nanny state when we cannot do things right ourselves?
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