Deadly Virus No Threat to Beijing Olympics
May 5, 2008 by Jeanne Dupuis
Filed under Sports Rumors
The World Health Organization has issued a statement saying that the highly infectious virus that has already claimed the lives of 24 children in China probably won’t be a threat to the Beijing Olympics. They add, however, that it is too early to tell whether it has peaked. I must mention that, according to the report I read, the virus usually peaks in June or July so who knows, really, if things aren’t going to get worse?
A type of hand, foot and mouth disease, enterovirus 71, has been another concern for the Chinese government as they deal with pollution woes and protests stemming from their possibly human rights violations.
"I don’t see it at all as a threat to the Olympics or any upcoming events … This is a disease mainly affecting young children," WHO China representative Hans Troedsson told a news conference.
It’s worth mentioning that, while I am trying to be fair, I have a hard time trusting the Chinese government on this one. The first deaths from the virus occurred in March but were not revealed until April 15, 2008. As was the case with the SARS outbreak, it’s starting to look like a cover-up. The truth about the seriousness of SARS was not immediately divulged from the Chinese government and it eventually killed almost 800 people worldwide. With so many people travelling to Beijing for the Olympic games, I fear that they could transport the virus to different parts of the world.
Am I the only one worried?
