wising up

 1st March 2020:

I feel obliged to start taking things more seriously, and start to read more about this coronavirus, comparisons with SARS (2002-2004, another coronavirus, 774 deaths), swine flu (2009, approx 284,000 deaths), Spanish flu (1918-1920, up to 50million deaths), usual influenza pandemics (annual seasonal flu approx 250,000 to 500,000 deaths). I fear I have been a little bit too laid back about this threat, and find myself sending information to my family. They know I’m serious when I start commenting with any advice or sending information of any medical nature, as it means I’m bothered enough about it to do so. Being sensible and heeding the advice that is starting to go around is all over the media, and taking individual responsibility for hand hygiene and sanitisation, space from people, and the handling of money, door handles, and trolley/basket handles have always been a bug bear of mine at the best of times as they exchange hands so many times! I have talked about these as potential infection spreaders for years, not to mention hand shaking (I rarely do this as a doctor these days-I have found that you can greet patients with a smile and politeness and convey every positive intention and caring concern without having to shake a hand, and still have the rapport and connection throughout the consultation without it) . And fastidious hand washing and wearing of gloves several times a day whether doing surgery or not, may be the surgeon in me, or may have been laughed at as the ocd in me, but I am quick to realise that the threat of a new virus hasn’t changed the behaviours I have long adopted-but I am so hoping that this whole event is educating the world about it!  My brother wonders if he will now get stuck in USA if the virus threatens his ability to leave there.  East or West? Which is safer right now is anyone's guess.  But the cases reported in Europe and increasingly in Italy for some reason, are raising my antennae.