May 15, 2003

SARS stigma is based on fear, not fact

This guest opinion is by Mel Kohn, M.D., state epidemiologist in the Oregon Department of Human Services. For a photograph of Dr. Kohn, call Bonnie Widerburg at (503) 731-4180 or e-mail bonnie.l.widerburg@state.or.us

Length: 512 words

By Mel Kohn, M.D.

SARS first splashed across the headlines in February, and there has scarcely been a day since without a major news story about it. Worldwide, by mid-May, more than 7,000 cases had been reported with almost 600 deaths. In the United States, there are more than 300 cases and no deaths.

Although the number of cases is low compared with many other health threats, fear of SARS is gripping the globe. Because it’s a new disease, we still don’t have all the answers. A definitive test for SARS is not yet available and a vaccination is even further away.

The fact that SARS was first detected in China and then spread to other Asian countries is having a negative affect on some Oregonians who have never been near the virus. Fueled by travel bans to certain Asian countries and repetitive images of Asians wearing protective masks, it’s called stigmatization, and it’s affecting people who are or who look to be Asian.

As state epidemiologist, I oversee public health programs that rely on the best science available to prevent diseases and injuries. To that end, I am greatly concerned about reports I’ve heard of discrimination toward Asians. For instance, I’ve heard of people avoiding Asians on the street or in the store, and staying away from Asian businesses because of SARS. These actions are divisive to our communities and they have a very real economic impact. And, a review of the facts suggests they aren’t effectively preventing people from getting SARS.

Fact: SARS is a respiratory illness caused by a new virus. Although Asia happened to be the place where SARS was first recognized, it’s not a disease that is biologically related to being Asian.

Fact: Only a very tiny number of people worldwide have been infected with SARS. For instance, out of the 3.5 billion people in Asia, about 7,000 cases have been reported there — about one case for every half million people.

Fact: Casual contact, such as passing someone on a bus or in a shopping mall, is not the major way SARS has been spread. The biggest risk factor is close contact with an infected individual, particularly in a health care setting.

Fact: The Asian-American community is as concerned as or more concerned than any other community about SARS and public safety.

Fact: Within the Asian-American community there is enormous diversity, reflecting many cultures and ethnicities. Most Americans of Asian descent were born here and have never even traveled to SARS-affected areas.

Each day we are making dramatic progress in finding out more about SARS. We know that people can minimize their risk of getting SARS by avoiding travel to SARS-affected areas and by washing their hands and in some situations by wearing masks.

Although we have yet to see a serious case of SARS in Oregon, we are being watchful. But we also need to be vigilant against unreasoned fear that can lead to the stigmatization of a particular community. This is the time for all of us to stand together as we confront this new public health challenge.

Mel Kohn, M.D., M.P.H., is state epidemiologist in the Oregon Department of Human Services. He can be contacted at melvin.a.kohn@state.or.us