Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
chapter 5
SARS and Avian Influenza
in china and canada:
the Politics of
Sonny Shiu-Hing lo
1
Since the outbreak of avian influenza in Hong Kong in December 1997, infectious
disease has become a human and national security threat to the Asia Pacific region
(osterholm 2005). In asian cities where population density is high, such as Hong
Kong, Singapore, and Macao, the emergence of any influenza pandemic endangers
the lives of all citizens. In geographically spacious countries, notably the People's
republic of china (Prc) and Indonesia, any looming pandemic would be socially
destabilising and politically delegitimising. In the United States the Spanish
influenza that broke out in 1918 resulted in civil disorder and riots in some cities
(Garrett 2005).
Public health crises have been numerous in the Asia Pacific region: avian
influenza in Hong Kong in late 1997; dengue fever in Macao in 2000; severe acute
respiratory syndrome (SarS) in mainland china, Hong Kong, and the republic
of china (roc) or Taiwan in early 2003; avian influenza in china in 2004 and
intermittently in 2005 and 2006; avian influenza in Indonesia and thailand in 2005
and 2006; the H5n1 virus in South Korea in november 2006; and a suspected
mysterious influenza that killed four children in Hong Kong in early 2008. In early
2007, avian influenza erupted in Japan, thailand, and Indonesia ('bird Flu Strikes
again in thailand' 2007). all these health crises in asia stemmed from infectious
diseases, the most important of which include avian influenza and SARS.
Infectious diseases are viruses that can be transmitted either from animals to
humans or from humans to humans. this chapter focusses on the respiratory type
of infectious disease, notably avian influenza and SarS. In this era of globalisation,
avian influenza and SARS can extend their tentacles swiftly, especially if they can be
transmitted from animals to humans and then from humans to humans. the intensity
of air travel in the world means that any contagious disease in asia has immediate
economic, social, and political repercussions in other parts of the world (thomson and
Hoe 2004). Due to canada's proximity to asia and their frequent human interactions,
any influenza pandemic in Asia will wreak havoc on the Canadian economy. The
