The infected are not to blame

With the spreading of the A (H1N1) flu and the growth in number of confirmed cases in China, stricter preventive measures have been imposed throughout the country and social attention has been focused on the infected people. Some aggressive people criticize the infected for bringing in the virus, thereby provoking moral censure in society. But actually and in an overall sense more respect and affection should be given to the infected people, says an article in Changjiang Daily. Excerpts:

The A(H1N1) flu is no doubt a pandemic in integrating world. With the high density of population and the awful experience of SARS epidemic, Chinese people surely expect to "engage the enemy outside the gates". But the prevailing hostile mood towards the infected people is frowned upon.

In the face of the epidemic, we must first recognize it is a battle of all human beings to prevent and cure the disease. Although quarantine has become a non-optional choice due to the special circumstances, we deviate from our intention of preventing disease, when the infected (people quarantined or otherwise) are not given due respect, but are excluded or even detested by the social majority.