EDITORIAL - A mysterious pneumonia

In 1918, the Spanish flu became a global pandemic that infected half a billion people and killed up to 50 million. Treatments for flu have been developed. New strains of influenza that are resistant to existing treatments, however, keep cropping up.

The coronavirus that caused SARS or severe acute respiratory syndrome jumped from animals to humans in China in 2003. By the time the disease was contained, 8,098 people worldwide had become sick, with 774 eventually dying.

From 2009 to 2010, the swine flu or AH1-N1 pandemic killed 18,449 people around the world, as recorded by the World Health Organization, although unofficial estimates of the death toll went as high as 203,000.

Various types of avian influenza or bird flu viruses have also emerged, claiming nearly 500 lives around the globe since 1997.

While the Philippines is just a short flight away from Hong Kong and China, where high rates of SARS infections were recorded, Filipinos were largely spared from the disease. There has been speculation that the tropical climate is not conducive to the viruses that cause certain flu strains. Or perhaps the country has simply been lucky.

Whatever the reason, the Philippines cannot afford to take any chances and must undertake measures to prevent the entry of what has been described as a mysterious viral pneumonia that has been detected in China. Precautionary measures are urgent particularly because of the influx of visitors from the Chinese mainland.

Although the Philippines was mostly spared from SARS and AH1-N1, viruses do manage to enter the country. In 2017, the avian influenza H5N6 was reported for the first time in the country. The flu killed approximately 37,000 birds and forced the culling of over 600,000 others, but fortunately did not jump to humans. Last year, despite global alerts and initial measures undertaken, the virus that causes African swine fever also entered the country, wreaking havoc on the local hog industry.

There is always the possibility that the mysterious pneumonia will enter the country. By now, authorities are already familiar with the protocols to be followed to prevent the entry of a new disease. Every precaution must be undertaken. From close monitoring at all ports of entry to the promotion of hygienic practices, it is possible to prevent the spread of a disease.