SARS and Me

March 29, 2008
Maggie Huang

SARS and ME

Many Chinese people will never forget November, 2002. That year, there was a new virus in southern China. The new virus was called "SARS". If a person got the virus, he or she would die in only a few days. The main way to spread the virus is by close person to person contact. When an infected person coughs or sneezes, it is possible that the SARS virus might spread through the air. There were hundreds of people died from SARS in China this year. SARS continued for one year. During that terrible year, my family's normal social life such as going shopping, working and enjoying leisure activities were severely disturbed by the epidemic.
One important effect of SARS on our life was that my parents felt the world was going to end. They were only able to get the SARS information through TV and newspapers. For their simple mind, they believed the government officials were hiding information about the epidemic. They were like a cut silk of kite. They didn't know what would happen tomorrow, and they didn't know what to do. Therefore, they used their own remedy and bought vinegar to boil and perfume the house. Everyday when I went home, I felt uncomfortable with the bad smell; then they heard Chinese herbal tea could prevent SARS, so they bought a lot of herbal teas. Everyday we stopped having soup, instead of the herbal teas. "How did you feel today"? They always asked the same question. In those days, I felt like my parents were going crazy and I was like a patient living in a hospital.
The effect of SARS also disturbed my normal work. When SARS came, my job completely changed. Everyday when I entered the company's entrance, I had to check my body temperature, and then put on a mask. Even though it was cold outside, we had to open all windows to keep the air fresh. I felt that I sat in an ice house to work; it was too cold. We seldom talked to each other. There were no more laughs or joking in our office. Everybody looked like had lost ten thousand dollars. After work, our office had to sterilize to destroy harmful germ with chemical products. Every day I worked with bad smell. I really didn't like that work situation. The whole situation made me uncomfortable and no more energy to work.
One more effect of SARS was on children. For them, they did not know what was happing in the world. They only felt every adult look very serious. Before SARS came, my parents often took my brother's daughter, who was about two years old to visit relatives and friends, but during SARS, they did not take her out, so her personality became different. She was scared of seeing new faces. When she went to school, she was very nervous too. There was a sink in their classroom. Her teacher made her wash her hands before class, after meals and at most times of the day. All these changes made her nervous. I felt so sad for my cousin's alarmed. I wanted to help her, but I didn't know how. I felt like I was lost in a forest with nowhere to go.
All of` those effects of SARS had brought severe suffering to everyone. Even though it is over, it is very important not to forget the suffering. I think there may be a good lesson and experience from the SARS. It made people have greater awareness of crisis, and people realized the most important thing is family and health in the world.