(2003:Published in the KTM Post)
(2002-2004: The author was a Researcher at the National University of Singapore) 
Living with SARS: An experience from Singapore
After the world was first shaken by the deadly HIV
causing AIDS in 1981, the world has got the second biggest jolt now with the
outbreak of SARS, a Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, an atypical pneumonia
caused by mysterious corona virus. The virus has been claiming lives all over
the world hitting more than 31 countries, killing almost 500 people and
infecting more than 8000. Besides China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Canada, Taiwan
and Vietnam, which have been hit hardest, countries in Central America, South America,
Middle East and Africa are also being infected. The SARS virus knows no
boundary, respects no sovereignty and excuses no race. It is democratic to its
core, affecting rich and poor, doctors and patients, crossing borders with
impunity, and thus freezing commerce, threatening a global recession.
Beijing, which was throbbing with new life few
months ago, has been virtually turned into a ghost town. Hong Kong has become a
shadow of its recent glory as residents have started staying indoors and foreigners
have avoided visiting there. Tourists in South East Asian countries have declined
to over 50 percent. Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific Airways is reportedly losing
US $3 million a day, just few months ago it had been a success story reporting
6-fold increase in 2002 profits. Singapore, one of the world’s most happening
places, with the trendiest clubs, juiciest restaurants and hottest fashion aficionados,
is now on a 60 to 80 percent business decline as reported in the Business
Times. Where terrorism has failed, SARS has almost succeeded ! The economic
fallout from the SARS fears has struck the Asian Business owners even harder
than the terror attack of September 11. The worst thing about it is not that it
is deadly, but that it is fearful and a panic in the public.
After WHO declared SARS a ‘world-wide health
threat’, the affected countries became a proverbial leper. World leaders called
off visits, while international trade fair, concerts and conferences were
cancelled and visitors especially from China were banned. The US closed all 6
of its diplomatic missions in China. China traders, together with those from
the other SARS-hit countries were also barred from one of the world’s biggest jewelry
and watch fairs in Switzerland. There have also been some incidents of
discrimination against the Asians in the European countries. In London, 15
Asian schools were forced out of a hotel where they had been staying in
quarantine after returning from term holiday in Hong Kong. Is the curse of SARS
‘isolation’ justified?
The real challenge is handling the problem by caring
each other. At this modern age, the world is supposed to be a global village.
Instead of elevating the cross-country walls, and rather than pointing finger
at each other, it would make more sense to fight the viral globalization
through international co-operation. While animal-born diseases spill over into
the human population, culling them in large number has solved the problem, the
cure for SARS would not be so easy because of the rapid mutation of the corona
virus. Drugs for AIDS, herpes, flu and other viruses have undergone trials to
see if they have any effect against SARS and scientists world-wide are
researching for something workable.
The Singaporean approach against SARS is straight
forward – recognizing the problem, isolating the SARS virus and preventing it from
spreading. In broad strategic terms, Singapore is fighting on 3 battlefronts.
The first battlefront is the points of entry, the airports, seaports and also
the land bridge; every incoming and outgoing passenger undergoes stringent
health screening through thermal scanners. The second battlefront is the
hospital, preventing infections from one ward to another. The third battlefront
is the home, offices, commercial and business centers where the health
conditions of individuals are monitored daily (particularly the temperature
monitor) and suspects are home quarantined.
After observing initial resistance by a few home
quarantined people, the parliament quickly passed a law that could fine a home
quarantine order violator up to Rs.
450,000 and sentence 6 months jail term. The parliament has announced to
distribute one million thermometers to households by June. Singapore made SARS
Early Detection Kit will soon be available in the market. Using blood or other
fluids, it will be able to diagnosis within 3 hours if a person is infected
even before the onset of any symptoms. In economic front, government has
announced substantial relief package to the SARs affected industries, such as
tourism, travel agencies and restaurants. Through its efforts, Singapore has
been able to fight the SARS battle, and has won the confidence of its people,
investors, visitors and spectators alike. The role taken by Singapore has made
its SARS campaign a model for other nations.
Amidst tragic SARS saga, I have my own story to
share. It was routine practice to go through the temperature monitor while
visiting my university (National University of Singapore) or any other office
premises. But when I suddenly developed fever and flu-like symptoms with
muscles ache and chills recently, my nerve started ringing with the thought of
going through the trauma of SARS. Possibilities of it being SARS ran high,
because of the fact that despite alerts by my doctor to avoid visiting the
hospital as far as possible, I had recently dared to visit National University
Hospital, where one doctor and two patients had just died of SARS. I imposed
myself into home quarantine, staying at home the whole day without meeting
anyone, asking my husband to stay in a separate room, measuring temperature
every few hours, and thinking what could happen, if it turned out to be SARS.
What worried me most was not the fact that my days
in this world would be limited, but the truth that I would be dying in a
foreign country in total isolation. What if I had really come down with SARS
and encountered the unfortunate and untimely death! I could never see my
family, friends, society and the country.
Fortunately, after 3 days of bed-rest, my fever
subsided, and I slowly recovered.
I had a narrow escape with a lesson to learn: It is
not SARS that is killing us, it is the fear that starts killing us before we
have been infected with SARS. Terrorism, war, SARS and economic downturn have
spread a kind of spiritual cancer in mankind. It pains to see hundreds of
people being lost with SARS, however, what pains more is the attitude of the world
making people smaller in spirit, stingier in kindness and cynical in nature.
With the spread of SARS, many have become self-centered and inhuman with
icebergs created in their hearts.
After my recovery, I am following a different
routine than others who restrict themselves unnecessarily. Realizing that SARS
has no quick solution, I do take necessary precautions, however, I consider
that life has to go on. I continue to go out to eat at restaurants and watch
movies at the Cineplex’s. I do not grow suspicious of my colleagues when they
cough or sneeze, rather continue to shake hand with them. Think of all the doctors
and nurses who work fearlessly to save lives of SARS patients at the risk of their
own. The world needs many more people of similar courage today.
I do not know about others, but as long as I’m alive
I wish to live each day as a human being full of life, spirit and love. This life,
here and now is all we have. It is not only SARS that is hurting us, it hurts
us equally seeing crying limbless children in Iraq, or remembering those who
died in the Bali bomb blast or those who perished in the World Trade Centre.
Pain comes in many other forms – losing a well-paid job, experiencing a
miscarriage, hearing the death of a dear one or being diagnosed with breast
cancer and undergoing the emotional and spiritual roller-coaster of
chemotherapy. Instead of running away from the pain or suffering, we should
learn to accept it gently, absorbing the pain internally and transmuting it
into compassion for others. Embrace death so that you may live better. Death
like birth is a part of life.
In this sense I am not unduly disturbed by the outbreak
of SARS. Yes, it is possible to live with SARS as it is possible to live with any
other pain, this is not the end of the world. It is with this remarkable power
of trust and faith that wars can be won, civilization can be saved, nations can
be created, and diseases can be conquered.
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