It is common knowledge that the corona viruses are extremely common in most vertebrates and often forms the normal flora of our pets and domesticated animals. Although the germ is common, there are numerous strains of a virulent virus found in dogs and cats, which find their association with the human corona virus, that are the cause of common coughs and cold.
There are also many amongst us, who show signs of allergy towards fur of pet animals. Allergic colds, fever, rash and asthma are some responses of human immune system to allergens and pollutants. Hence it would be prudent for me to initially warn and alert my readers that coal dust, mining particulate matters, smoke from belching chimneys from industrial estates not only carry with them micron size dust but also spores of fungi, bacteria and viruses.
There has been lot of tom-toming on the aspects of masks, affording protection to individuals wearing it. Surely, the doctors in operation theatres use masks to protect the patient during surgeries, deliveries and victims of accidents and burns, pesticides, coal, saw dust, mining and industrial operations is a welcome safety protocol. Specially so, the microscopic dust can enter the respiratory as well as the alimentary canal during the course of human physiological activities.
However, it is absurd and foolish to assume that the air is full of pathogenic and virulent microbes including the COVID-19, without the scientific direct evidence of the viral load in the normal ambience. The approach to epidemiology in India generally and in Goa particularly was quixotic and a kneejerk reaction drawn out of panic and fear psychosis. The quacks and half baked civil servants drew up fallacious SOPs which quarantined a healthy society and allowed the virulent pathogens to slowly enter our national borders and disseminate through international flights and events. To add a nail to our coffin of woes, Pramod Sawant and Vishwajit Rane allowed industrial estates, mining operations and the vulnerable harbour at Mormugao to operate in full swing. Many industries were using raw materials from ‘hotspots’ in Maharashtra brought in by trucks misusing and illegally labelling the consignments as foods, vegetables and essential commodities.
Infected labour force from hotspots in the neighbouring states were procured with lavish ease and the dumb bureaucracy did precious nothing during the prime duration whilst we considered ourselves in the ‘Green zone’. Whilst COVID-19 was being systematically ushered in by the quackery controlling our pandemic control buttons, through influx of migrants, our own population of mute Goans, were pushed into illogical and unscientific quarantine for three months, which resulted into fear, stress, lack of oxygen (fresh air), lack of nutrition, psychological imbalances and physiological disturbances.
In my earlier articles, I had mentioned as early as February 2020, that bio-fouling of water system would have adverse impact on tourism due to respiratory infections through aerosol sprays. Obviously, as predicted by me, we saw peak of infections in our industrial estates and pharma companies in Verna and industrial units in Cuncolim and elsewhere became the focal points for the spread of the virus across Goa as employees there are drawn from across the state. We must learn from history and rectify our mistakes.
We must realise that Mother Nature has inbuilt defence mechanism. We allowed our people to forcibly wear masks, without establishing the viral load in the atmosphere as well the general public. We failed to carry out random sampling and tests were carried out only in the vicinity of the patient after the victim came up with symptoms with the antigen or the antibody detection kits. The two important strategies often needed to be applied in epidemiological sciences is : a)Prevention is better than cure, b) Attack is often the best form of defence.
As Goans, we failed miserably on both these fronts. Ridiculously, we spend more time, money and energies to quarantine and harass the seafarers, rather than monitor and seal our borders and prevent industries from romping home Covid-19 cases of migrant labour. We made Goans weak and sick by penalising asymptomatic patients and forcing the use of masks.
The reality of Covid-19 mortalities is not per se of the Corona virus. As mentioned early, I stress again that the virus detected by rt.pcR is a poor cousin of the original strain which leaked out of the Wuhan laboratory. The pcR test only detects the amplified version of the polymerase chain reaction of a few nucleo tides. I will not deal with false positive or negative as it would confuse the readers, but I would certainly stress that most Covid-19 deaths are primarily due to co-morbidity, secondary infections of pneumonia which blocks alviola and contamination of blood leading to clots and oxygen exchange.
Hence as these viruses use the human genome to grow and multiply, they lack the ability to produce toxin. The best way to subdue these viruses is by healthy practices. Breathe fresh clean air, avoid masks, which forces foul air from the mask to enter the nose.
Allow your body to tackle the viruses. Remember always you will never be able to eliminate viruses as Mother Nature first harnessed them before man arrived and Mother Nature has given us everything we need to keep the viruses in control and we have to listen to the call of Mother Nature and avoid actions, which would lower your immunity and compromise your life.
(The writer is a retired University Professor and an environmental activist)
