FACE mask is in peak of demand as this civilization freaked out to 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) even if the DOH said, it infects only through direct contact. So, the once free, abundant, clean and fresh air becomes a scarce commodity by filtering with a mask, in credence that the air in general is polluted.
Initially, the experts averred that the pneumonic plague from Wuhan, China called 2019-nCoV is not as fatal like her elder sister Mers that killed 774 and her elder brother Sars with a death toll of 349.
This family of betacoronaviruses detected from animals is also present in one of the 49 bats tested in UP-Mindanao. The bats subjected to the study were the long-tongued nectar bat (macroglossus minimus) which is one of the 53 species of bats found in Mindanao. The specie studied was taken from its sanctuary in Samal island of Davao del Norte.
In many studies conducted, baneful viruses impinging on humans came from animals, like MERS that comes from camels, SARS from civet cats, Ebola from bats and monkeys, HIV-Aids from chimpanzees, and H1N1 influenza from birds and pigs. Aside from these infectious diseases, there are also about 38 viral infections that come from rats. Few of which are the life threatening Hantavirus, LCMV and Leptospirosis.
In fact, the most devastating pandemics in human history happened in 1347 that killed 60 percent of Europe’s population, called “black death” was caused by a rat virus from China according to Wikipedia. Which in China alone, it recorded a death toll of 25 million.
Even then, bamboo rats which are rich in protein like pork were in vertex sales in Wuhan, China during the last quarter of 2019. That was in preparation to usher the New Year of the metal rat. With that, there were suppositions that the first person infected with the 2019-nCoV-ARD was a rat meat monger in Wuhan.
The Bible from the very beginning recommended herbs bearing seeds and trees bearing fruits -Genesis 1:29; and warned of unclean food not suited for human consumption but exists even in the Garden of Eden. But since herbs were inadequate after the flood, humankind was provisionally permitted to eat flesh of the selected “clean” animals mentioned in Leviticus chapter 11.
Pork is prohibited (haram) food according to hadith and Quran; even Torah declared it unclean. And a great judgment in a form of curse or outbreak will be enforced for its flesh eaters. Isaiah 66:16-17 (KJV) says: “For by fire and by his sword will the Lord plead with all flesh: ...eating swine’s flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the Lord.”
With the African Swine Fever (ASF) and betacoronavirus present in Davao region, the health authorities encouraged us a naive style of cooperation to control the rapid contagion. The basics are: maintain clean hands, cover nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing, avoid close contact to anyone with flu-like symptoms, avoid unprotected contact with animals, drink substantial amount of water, and above all refrain from eating unclean foods.