Echoes of Panic over Global Disease

Philip Bowring believes lessons from history should inform our current concerns over global epidemics. While epidemics lead to widespread fears and calls for global advisory boards and local action, Bowring asserts that we would be wise to question virologists, journalists, and health officials on the level of threat they suppose looms around the corner. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) killed 1,000 people worldwide, while a plague in Egypt killed over 200,000 people during the mid-1800's. Then, as now, officials prescribed quarantines, which, when the results were examined, were proven to be ineffective. In fact, the Egyptian plague was caused more by poor ventilation and sanitary conditions, along with specific weather conditions, than the movement of people. Ultimately, quarantines are also ineffective because of corrupt government officials. In the end, Bowring aims his most trenchant criticism at health boards and quarantine officials, whom he claims might benefit financially from quarantines and therefore issue false reports. – YaleGlobal