This is a society where panic-inducing misinformation spreads at the speed of WhatsApp voice notes and Facebook videos.
For that reason, the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, must ensure there is a steady flow of facts to quickly counter any falsehoods that might be shared about two cases of Hansen’s disease recently detected at the Enterprise Government Primary School.
The experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic exposed how far anti-vaxxers and conspiracy theorists will go to spread doubt and fear in this population.
The authorities must keep ahead of these purveyors of untruths who could easily spark panic, particularly among those who still refer to Hansen’s disease by its old name, leprosy, and might still consider it to be some easily transmitted plague.
Public officials should also be careful about the information they share and statements they make about the situation.
Two students, who happen to be siblings, have been diagnosed with the disease. The situation has already been properly managed. There is no risk of contagion and it would be totally misleading to describe the situation at the school as an outbreak.
This is not a situation that requires a full-scale prevention campaign. The fact is that there is greater risk from the seasonal flu and a more urgent need, during this Carnival season of heightened activity and interaction, for preventative measures against the viruses already in wide circulation.
There is one confirmed case of the JN.I variant of the coronavirus in this country and a resurgence in COVID-19 in recent weeks, with five deaths and a few hospitalisations. However, the JN.1 variant does not cause more severe illness, although it spreads more easily compared with other variants.
On the other hand, Hansen’s disease cannot be transmitted through casual contact such as shaking hands, sitting next to, or talking to someone with the disease.
Information from the US-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) underscores how minimal the risk is from this disease, in that 95 per cent of all people cannot become sick because they are naturally immune.
In any case, patients become non-contagious as soon as they begin treatment with the multi-drug therapy (MDT) that has dramatically reduced the prevalence of the disease.
According to the CDC, with early diagnosis and treatment, Hansen’s disease can be cured and people with the disease can lead active lives during and after treatment.
From all indications, thanks to quick interventions by the Ministries of Health and Education, including sanitising of the school compound, there is no risk to the school population, or even to the wider Enterprise, Chaguanas, community.
The clear and present risk, with Carnival season in full swing and unmasked masses congregating at fetes and competitions, is for fast spread of the virus that causes seasonal influenza.
While the strict quarantines and lockdowns of two years ago are not called for, there is need for responsible behaviour, particularly by those going out to the fetes and shows, to prevent the spread of the infectious viruses already known to be in circulation.
People with flu-like symptoms should voluntarily isolate, the elderly and immuno-compromised need to take extra precautions and all others should go back to the protocols that were practised during the acute phase of COVID-19.
T&T is not on the brink of a plague but an extra bit of caution won’t hurt.