Big fleas etc

Oh dear - Covid seems to be back with a vengeance round here at present.   But somehow, after lockdowns everyone seems to take it less seriously.  A close relative of mine who has very many health issues has to keep clear of Covid as it is likely to prove very serious should she catch it.   Both she and her husband wear a mask if they go out.   These days folk look askance at masks in this country but I have been to several far east countries where certainly in large cities and crowded places in general most folk wear masks.  But on the whole I would guess that most folk just carry on and many who do get Covid do shake it off in a few days.

I read in the Times today how studies in Brazil seem to suggest that Vegetarians and Vegans come off better where Covid is concerned.   Will this prompt thousands to become Vegetarian?Vegan?  

But it did make me think about how we look at diseases.   When I was born in 1932 Pneumonia was a real killer, especially of babies and young children.   I was the youngest of 5 children and out of us 5 two - Irene and Colin - died of pneumonia in infancy.   We other three all had it but survived.  We were born well apart (my sister was 22 years older than me).

When I was growing up in a small Lincolnshire village the scourge was TB.  Most families in our small village lost at least one member to TB and everyone was scared of getting it.   My mother fed me up - had there been the variety of foods there are today I would probably have had a weight problem but being Second World War time and there being no way to get about except by bus or bike (and the latter was cheaper once the bike was bought ) plenty of leg-power was needed to get from A to B .   That - and walking everywhere kept us all pretty fit.  Or so we thought.   But still the TB deaths carried on.   Or did until I think (this is only a guess, so please feel free to correct me) antibiotics arrived on the scene.

When I had my medical examination before going into teaching the doctor asked me when I had TB.  I said I had never had it but he said X Ray showed up plenty of 'TB Scars'.

I do remember the  advent of M and B tablets in 1938 (rather unimaginatively called after the producers May and Baker) and of course they were closely followed by Penicillin which I rather think was used to good effect during World War 2 to treat Winston Churchill's pneumonia.

Now antibiotics are bandied about like Smarties and many folk are saturated I understand. Folk seem to ring Medical Centres and ask if they can have an antibiotic as they have a throat infection and can't get an appointment to see their doctor for another three weeks.

And so back to Covid.   Will the small study in Brazil mean a giant rush to Vegetarian?   I doubt it.We have learned to take it in our stride - until the next nasty microbe makes an appearance.    Until a 21st century version of Spanish flu wipes out more people than died in whichever war precedes it.

Not a pleasant prospect from where I sit at my computer.  I try to watch the News as rarely as possible but sometimes I feel compelled to switch it on.  Some days it is as though Ukraine and Gaza and the dreadful killing and maiming, the hatred and the barbarianism don't exist any more.    Either they come last as an add-on or they are not mentioned.   Like Covid, like pneumonia, like TB - out of sight out of mind.

Everyone just keeps ploughing on.   Is there an alternative?   Can't think of one.