Deadlier than Corona!

Invisible virus Corona has shaken the entire world!  Till yesterday, it has engulfed 154 countries, infected 2,86,932+ people and killed 11,906 persons.  Italy's figures of 793 deaths (on 21st March) is scary. World's most powerful country USA is virtually shut down with fears of fatal spread. With only 315 infections and 4 deaths, India's figures are only looking deceptive.  Experts have warned that coming days are very crucial!

Virus attacks on mankind is not new.  The worst of them is the 'Spanish flu 1918' which lasted for 2 years till end of 1920.  Its attack period virtually extended the disastrous effects of World War I (1914-18). Spanish flu's death estimate of about 50 millions to 100 millions (about 5% of then world's population) had virtually eclipsed the first World War's toll which killed 9 millions soldiers and 7 million civilians.  Even in India about 15 million people became victims due to Spanish flu. 

Spanish flu was first of the two pandemics caused by H1N1 influenza virus, second being the 'Swine flu' of 2009. Doctors unsuccessfully tried to cure it with 'aspirin'.  Ultimately the virus weathered down on its own.  Strangely Spanish flu killed more youth and the middle-aged than the old!

Virus attacks are natural and man can do little to avoid their occurrence.  Unfortunately man-made disasters are bigger killers than the virus attacks. 

Road accidents kill about 1.5 million people every year around the world and the figures are ever increasing.  90% of these deaths occur in low and middle income countries and most killed are young people.  The reasons for road accidents include rash driving, bad roads, liquor consumption and over-crowded roads. 

Surprisingly the biggest killer of mankind is 'hunger'.  As per UNO estimation, about 800 million people, the world over suffer from hunger which is more than 10% of world population.  About 25,000 people die every day because of hunger, which adds up to about 10 million deaths every year.  

Both the vaccine and the medicine for combating hunger are known to all of us. That is providing them food!  But not many care for this easy solution as hunger kills only poor whereas virus kills even the rich!

Hunger is rampant in Asian and African countries.  Hunger in children causes stunted physical and mental growth affecting the entire generation to come.  Mothers who are malnourished invariably give birth to weak children.  An interesting observation is that the education level of the mothers greatly influences the level of nourishment provided to children.  As per one study India is faring worse than her smaller neighbours, Srilanka and Bangladesh in combating hunger, malnutrition and child mortality!  

As per another estimate every year, food worth 750 billion dollars are wasted all over the world, whereas food worth 30 billion dollars annually is enough to combat world hunger! Strange that the mother earth is providing food for all, whereas man does not know how to make it reachable to the needy.  

All these doesn't mean that we can downplay the threat of Corona.  Let us take a pledge today on the occasion of  'Janata Curfew' to resolve and restrict ourselves for combating the ugly virus.  

Let's clap, ring bells and blow conchs at 5 pm today from our roof-tops, for thanking all those who are working tirelessly for fighting Corona.

Short live Corona!

Long live mankind!!

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