Posted on 05/10/2003 4:00:38 AM PDT by twntaipan
Sandakan: The Duchess of Kent Hospital here has shot down the myth that green beans would be the best defence against the deadly Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) virus.
Its Acting Director, Dr G. Mohan Naidoo, when contacted, acknowledged that he was also aware of rampant rumours that the green beans, when boiled and eaten, could help prevent SARS infection.
Describing the rumours as a “paranormal phenomenon”, he believed it could have been spread by irresponsible people for reasons known to themselves.
Similar rumours were also circulating in Sarawak and Kota Kinabalu, he said.
Dr Mohan did not rule out the fact that the rumours could have stemmed from the Internet, and propagated by irresponsible elements.
It was widely rumoured in Sandakan that a newborn baby spoke, giving the advice that those seeking to avert calamities and maladies, such as SARS, must eat boiled green beans before 12 midnight on Thursday.
While most people might consider this kind of tale as ridiculous, the damage has been done.
On Friday morning, even after past the deadline, those influenced by the rumours made a beeline to sundry shops in Sandakan town for green beans, regardless of the price hikes by unscrupulous traders taking advantage of the situation.
One trader claimed he had no problem selling off 20 sacks of green beans, each weighing 250 kilogrammes.
Other sundry shops also reported brisk sales of green beans, but some sceptics believe that such a rumour was a ploy to help dispose of large stocks of “unwanted” green beans.
In Tawau, several sundry shops also recorded brisk sales of green beans, as most elderly folks believe these have a cooling effect for the body during the current hot weather.
One consumer admitted that he was also aware of the rumours, “but we have nothing to lose since green beans are also nutritious”.
According to them, if the rumours were true, then it would be good for their health.
“If not, then it is still good for health, with their nutritious value,” they said.
Meanwhile, the rumours are believed to have stemmed from a news report in which Cambodian authorities are investigating the current frenzy on green beans in that country.
According to a report from Phnom Penh, the Cambodians were rushing to sundry outlets to buy green beans with the belief that, if eaten boiled with palm sugar, they could get protection from SARS.
The frenzy continued despite the price soaring from the usual 1,000 riels (95 cents) per kilogramme to 10,000 riels.
The Cambodians claimed that relatives in the United States and Australia had alerted them on the “miraculous beans”.
It was reported that no SARS cases have been detected in Cambodia, since the disease first struck southern China last November.
1,000 riel = .26 cents US = .99 Malaysian ringgit.
Silly-assed morons. I will pray to an invisible man in
the sky that they see the error of such heresy.
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