BIO-TERRORISM is one of the worst type of terrorism because it does not know its enemies. It is a sure way in crippling economies and could even lead to changing leaders. This is worse than armed terrorism because no one could hide from it. Looking back at world history, there were many bio-terroristic acts in the past. The flu virus in the early ’50s and ’60s had the antidote but only when it became already a worldwide paranoia. Cancer was the number one killer during the cold war while HIV and AIDS during the post-cold war. Today, virus and bacteria are allegedly released on air and we do not know how to counter them. We are always told that a new strain is out.
In the past, disease control was a political issue and people look for leaders who can heal them or could do something about real epidemics. Today disease is still a political issue not on curing but on how much one could get out of it.
Recently, the world stopped because of contamination and deaths of the people in a city in China. While the Philippines was busy facing the problem of the African Swine Fever and the Taal Volcano incident, health officials failed to regulate Chinese entry into the country.
In politics, China is the new “Big Brother” of the Philippines and Russia is playing as the “good uncle” while the US is just an ordinary friend and the United Kingdom as a fellow. The developed countries are looking at their positioning in the southeast. It seems that in the world of business, China had overtaken them and in terms of territory, China still has the edge. Who can stop China from expanding?
A few nights ago, my wife and I were discussing the hysteria caused by the nCoV menace. It seems that everyone is panicky. Media keeps on reporting and injecting in the minds of the people that this deadly virus might wipe out humanity. This virus might already be the “big one”. But looking at the situation, my wife told me of her doubts of this virus as a natural one. This might have been part of a bigger ploy to discredit those countries that would overtake the US or the EU, she theorized. She told me to take note that the US is facing a financial crisis and a presidential contest; EU is now at the brink of collapse with Brexit in its final stages. The failed Middle East conflict and the impeachment of Trump are two useless expenditures of the US. It hurt them so much that they did not know how to bounce back.
The ASF in the country was also believed to be a bio-terrorism for the pork industry. It crippled the economy but Filipinos are resilient.
So, I am wary of the nCoV situation. They say that it comes from Wuhan, China and was carried by a bat and eaten by man and the tragedy began. Now, the whole world is watching over it and the people in the health sector are once again wishing for a miracle to come – the antidote.
As of the moment, we continue to pray for ourselves and those affected by this virus.
St. Ezekiel Moreno, pray for us.