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The infected are not to blame

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-05-20 07:41

With the spreading of the A (H1N1) flu and the growth in number of confirmed cases in China, stricter preventive measures have been imposed throughout the country and social attention has been focused on the infected people. Some aggressive people criticize the infected for bringing in the virus, thereby provoking moral censure in society. But actually and in an overall sense more respect and affection should be given to the infected people, says an article in Changjiang Daily. Excerpts:

The A(H1N1) flu is no doubt a pandemic in integrating world. With the high density of population and the awful experience of SARS epidemic, Chinese people surely expect to "engage the enemy outside the gates". But the prevailing hostile mood towards the infected people is frowned upon.

In the face of the epidemic, we must first recognize it is a battle of all human beings to prevent and cure the disease. Although quarantine has become a non-optional choice due to the special circumstances, we deviate from our intention of preventing disease, when the infected (people quarantined or otherwise) are not given due respect, but are excluded or even detested by the social majority.

Since the A (H1N1) flu has spread widely, it requires every one of us to report our status of illness and conform to quarantine if suspected. It also calls for a sacrifice of some personal rights in the public interest when necessary. But it by no means grants us the license to ignore the human rights of the infected and isolate them from the common people as if they are monsters. Deprived of basic respect, no suspected or exposed person would dare to report the illness or submit to quarantine.

In a highly integrated world as today, it is more important than ever to consolidate the efforts of all human beings to fight the virus. Well prepared as we need to be for a worse situation, we should stick to the principle of fairness and respect to all people.

(China Daily 05/20/2009 page8)