We should be aware of risks
From: John Riseley, Harcourt Drive, Harrogate.
ON the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak, Public Health England no doubt intends its statement that “the current risk to the UK population is low” to be reassuring. But I find the combination of “current” and “risk” puzzling and perhaps also concerning. “Current” relates to the present whereas “risk” refers to an event in the future.
Risk is the assessed probability of that event happening and its severity, so we can reasonably say that the risk is current at the time when this assessment is made. This would be consistent with PHE’s qualifier that “this is a rapidly evolving situation which we are monitoring carefully but based on the available evidence…” That, however, allows for the risk to suddenly escalate without anything having materially changed, simply on the basis of our finding more information. This is less comforting than the likely takehome message of low risk. And the assessment of “low”, deriving as it does from our experience that most things we know nothing about turn out to be harmless, is not a strong one.
The danger of the “low risk” message is that it may permeate those who should be acting to protect us. Institutions are highly susceptible to their own propaganda. Keeping them focused, and free to discuss the problem without inhibition, is more important than shielding the public from worry.
If we have a healthy awareness of the other things that may kill us then one more is unlikely to send us into panic. So long as we are not on top of a ladder or driving a vehicle at the time, does it matter if we do panic? Then we can calm down and have a cup of tea, as no doubt the Chinese are doing.
From: Coun Tim Mickleburgh (Lab), Boulevard Avenue, Grimsby.
YET again we have a worldwide virus panic, which is energising the media. Trouble is we seem to have one every few years that rarely amounts to much so far as the UK is concerned. So if we are warned of a Spanish flu-type disaster in years to come, will it be case of the boy crying wolf?