#BTEditorial – Learning from the teachable moment that is a pandemic

The last two-and-a-half years of a virulent coronavirus pandemic have been a teachable moment for all of us.

We have learnt that life will never be “normal” again, to expect the unexpected at short notice and that being responsible can make a life-saving difference.

We have for the most part adjusted to living with a virus that has simply refused to go away although many countries have virtually stopped counting infections, removed protocols, and dropped PCR tests for travel and mandatory mask-wearing.

In fact, some experts suggest that COVID is nearing its endemic stage with cases in some countries consistently on the decline.

Yet, recent spikes in infections in the US, UK, Australia, Canada and elsewhere send a clear signal that we can hardly drop our guard.

Infectious disease specialists have also been closely monitoring monkeypox, described as a rare disease that is part of the same family of viruses as smallpox.

It’s found mostly in parts of Africa but has been seen in other areas of the world in recent months, triggering concern.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), about 9,200 cases of monkeypox have been reported across 63 countries so far this year, up from just over 6,000 as of July 4. Three deaths from the virus have been reported so far this year.

WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a virtual press conference on Tuesday that the global health body will convene a second emergency meeting next week to determine if monkeypox poses a global health threat amid rising infections.  It was just a week ago that the WHO had declined to declare the virus a global emergency.

Dr Tedros said: “The emergency committee for monkeypox will reconvene next week and look at trends, how effective the countermeasures are, and make recommendations” to countries and communities confronting the outbreak.

Last Wednesday, Jamaica became the second CARICOM country to declare its first confirmed case of monkeypox when a man tested positive after travelling from the United Kingdom.

Though unfortunate, this should hardly be surprising as millions travel.  By now we know for sure there’s no foolproof way to prevent a virus from travelling, and that shutting down borders is pointless.

Simply put, we always have to be vigilant and be ready to respond as directed by health officials.

They have advised there is no need to panic. They note that monkeypox is far less likely to lead to serious illness and death, unlike COVID-19 which has claimed more than 6.3 million lives.

Today Chief Medical Officer Dr Kenneth George confirmed that local authorities are investigating  a suspected case of the disease, in which a Barbadian male presented with signs of lesions on his body.                                                                            

He said: “I am aware of the case and we are doing all the testing that is necessary. Appropriate samples have been taken,” he said. “There is no travel history and the patient has been placed in isolation out of an abundance of caution.

At this stage there is no need to panic.

Dr George said that the Ministry of Health is undertaking a “full” review of public health procedures as it continues to monitor the spread of monkeypox in some of our main tourist source markets.

“We are actually having a full review with all persons working across the public sector on awareness and sensitisation, the symptoms, the signs, the clinical presentation.

“My advice to the population is to be very observant. Be careful about the persons you mix with. If the person has a rash, you should try to stay away from that individual because if you are exposed you would be required to be quarantined and quarantine is up to 21 days as prescribed by the World Health Organisation (WHO).                                                 

“Even if we had a case here in Barbados, it can be managed.”

Since our experience with COVID-19 we all know the drill.

Proper handwashing, sanitization, mask-wearing, physical distancing and staying away from others when we are feeling ill can protect all of us, in addition to vaccination and booster shots.

But even as the experts cast a vigilant eye on a new if more remote threat we simply cannot afford to avert our watchful gaze on variants of the Omicron coronavirus. Elderly people and people whose health is already impaired or affected by pre-existing conditions are not objects of pity or neglect. They are our relatives, friends and loved ones. They are readers of this newspaper. It may even be you.

COVID-19 is not the common cold. It remains an uncommon assault on our public health systems and our way of life.

Vigilance, preventative action and following the science on any virus, pox, pestilence or public menace remain the means by which we can recover our economy, put people back to work and play in safety, recover two long lost years of educational and social deficits, and prepare adequately for the next threat.