Published on November 29, 2005
Evidence indicates no need to panic before a bird-flu pandemic does break out
Re: “Academic warns people not to store eggs in refrigerators”, News, November 25.
Perhaps this comment by Prof Yong Phuvoravan is the most important one in this article: “... the virus can be caught only through direct contact with chickens ...” There is no data to indicate it can be caught by eating infected eggs. On the other hand, not refrigerating eggs can cause Salmonella enteritis, otherwise known as food poisoning, an extremely common and extremely unpleasant disorder. Perhaps this extract from the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention best describes the problem: “Eggs, like meat, poultry, milk and other foods, are safe when handled properly. Shell eggs are safest when stored in the refrigerator, individually and thoroughly cooked, and promptly consumed. The larger the number of Salmonella present in the egg, the more likely it is to cause illness. Keeping eggs adequately refrigerated prevents any Salmonella present in the eggs from growing to higher numbers, so eggs should be held refrigerated until they are needed. Cooking reduces the number of bacteria present in an egg; however, an egg with a runny yolk still poses a greater risk than a completely cooked egg. Undercooked egg whites and yolks have been associated with outbreaks of Salmonella enteritis infections.” You gentlemen of the press have done just about everything possible to talk up an avian flu pandemic, and if the press could actually create a pandemic, we would have one now. Fortunately, flu pandemics cannot be created by talk. Flu pandemics occur about once every generation, and the science to prevent, deter or cure them does not yet exist. Tamiflu is a palliative. It may help, but it cures nothing. Vaccines to immunise against flu-virus infections take at least six to nine months to create, and they are often ineffectual for rapidly mutating viruses. Sars has been around for three or four years, and they are still working on an effective vaccine! So, when the time comes for a flu pandemic, perhaps a billion people will die. That may happen next year, in five years or later. But it will arrive in its own time, without any help from the press. Michael Greenwald, MD Bangkok ----------------------------- Lack of food-service hygiene poses large yet hidden threat Re: “Not enough Thais wash hands: study”, News, November 28. Okay, I’m convinced. The handshake is out. When in Thailand, do as the Thais and make use of the wai. Now what to do about the food-service folks? Steve Snyder Nong Khai ----------------------------- A hot head is proving to be Thaksin’s Achilles’ heel Re: “Diverse viewpoints essential to any society’s well-being”, Letters, November 27. Burin Kantabutra’s quote of Lord Chesterfield on the rudiments of a politician and comments on advantages of diverse views hit right on target in regard to the current actions of Thaksin and his lieutenants. I am a great admirer of Thaksin’s performance as an achiever; he could have become the greatest prime minister in Thai history if it were not for his sensitivity to criticism and his strong sense of vengeance. When he retaliates, it causes people to think there must be some truth in his opponents’ attacks. If you cannot stomach fair or unfair criticism, then don’t be a politician. Remember Harry Truman’s famous quote, “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen”. Anand Panyarachun once commented that if he found dirt on one side of the footpath, then he would cross the road to walk on the other side. Hence, he is still remembered as a good prime minister during a time of need and never as a politician. People will always have fond memories of this man, who has consistently acted as a gentleman. Songdej Praditsmanont Bangkok ----------------------------- Kingdom is blessed with such a surfeit of ‘experts’ I have read with interest the letters and opinions on your pages, from everyone from college professors to the drunk at the end of the bar. Some are full of advice on how to handle the situation in the South of the country to whether there should be a privatisation of state enterprises. One can but wonder how the countries some of these folks come from can survive with their self-taught expertise over here rather than at home. We have those who wish to give up part of the country to those who have been killing the citizens of this country. After all, some areas have only been part of Thailand for 100 years or so, they point out. If all countries gave up land they had acquired in the last hundred years or so, the map of the world would look much different. Others decry “nationalism” as the culprit for the problems faced in the southern provinces and for American forces being in the Middle East. One can see how word of communism and socialism failing has yet to reach the left hand of politics, including those involved in higher education. Then we have those who are “experts” on chemical weapons and their use in war. The continuing myth that America provided these weapons to Iraq in its war with Iran refuses to die. Then we are told that the US is using “chemical agents” in Iraq. White phosphorous (WP) is the latest culprit in the left’s arsenal. What is the greatest use of WP in war? Marking rounds! They are primarily used to mark targets, to ensure that the range is correct, before bringing in the much more lethal range of high-explosive rounds, readily available. One recalls the famed Arab network showing WP going off 200 feet up as a marker and describing this as the use of “chemical weapons”, and the next day some fool has it on the Internet as a war crime. Then we have those who claim the use of CS gas and “pepper spray” in crowd dispersal is a use of “chemical agents” and a war crime. Women carry these in their handbags to ward off attackers. The problems in the South are not new. They have been dealt with in the past and will be dealt with now. Part of this country is not going to be given up to pacify those who kill and maim the innocent. If some of these great “experts” wish to seek land and autonomy for someone, head on over to Burma. Such guarantees were made in the late 1940s, and the Karen, Kachin, Mon, Shan and the rest are still waiting. The woman who scored big in the election is under arrest. You should even be able to find it on the Internet. Last, we have those who wish to recommend which special-operations forces from which country should be brought in to assist the Thai armed forces combat terror. The Thai special-operations forces have a long history of combined operations and training with special forces from a number of nations. That the letter-writers do not know this is an indicator that these people, foreign and domestic, are doing their job. That is how it should be. Major Mark A Smith US Army, retired Bangkok ----------------------------- Tasteless schemes fail to represent the true Thailand Re: “Let’s show some respect”, Editorial, November 27. I could not agree more with your editorial. I love Thailand and try to promote the country as a holiday destination to friends at every opportunity. However, my crusade is made very difficult, because it seems that some in the Kingdom wish to discourage visitors with tasteless money-making schemes like the Chiang Mai Night Safari, with its “exotic” menu. And now, inappropriate events costing Bt300 million to mark the tsunami – money that those of us who were in Thailand at the time of the tsunami or are aware of the shortcomings of aid distribution know would be better spent on improving survivors’ lives. Few if any visitors with any good taste would want to attend these “events” or “attractions”, and for the organisers to think so, whether they be official organisations like the TAT or private ones, shows how totally out of touch they are with everything but their own avarice. Thank you for printing the thoughts of many of us who love the country but deplore the mercenary and tasteless pursuit of money by a minority of its citizens to the detriment of the majority. D Griffith Bangkok ----------------------------- Amending traffic laws would make for much safer roads Re: “Maniacal motorcyclists are a traffic menace”, Letters, November 28. Grandpa in Chon Buri talks about the responsibility of motorbike drivers to follow the law. I believe this applies to drivers of all vehicles. He says he is happy to drive down the centre line so that motorbikes can travel on the shoulder. The point of my letter (“Outdated traffic laws snarl up traffic on roads and flyovers”, November 24) was that this is dangerous. Having cars going faster past bikes that have to tangle with oncoming traffic, buses and careless drivers is what has caused such a high rate of death. These numbers can be reduced along with the traffic if motorbikes weren’t forced to the side as they traditionally are because of outdated traffic laws. Some people would argue that this high death rate is caused only by not wearing helmets. Whenever you see one of these accidents, in how many cases were the motorbikes hit by a car versus another motorbike? Flyovers alleviate traffic, and having a gang of traffic police running across four lanes of traffic is also very dangerous. Grandpa should realise that most motorbikes would go a lot faster if they didn’t have to worry about being hit by him driving down the centre line. A motorbike rider Bangkok
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