Reflection Paper on Contagion

Contagion is a fictional account of a worldwide outbreak of a deadly infectious disease. It

follows the transmission of a virus that is released as infected people touch objects and leave
the virus behind for others to capture. I found it outstanding as it depicted a realistic portrayal of
a pandemic scenario. From the real-life accounts of the CDC's Epidemic Intelligence Service, to
showing how societies are struggling to keep the social and economic consequences in check.
The movie has valuable facts to share with today's audiences when we are all dealing with
COVID-19. Its situations are somewhat similar to our contemporary experiences. When we live
through a pandemic, some of us can't help but draw parallels to this 2011 American film.

The virus shown in the film may be several times deadlier than the one that causes
COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2). Contagion's fictitious virus is known as MEV-1. Similar to SARS-
CoV-2 it is a novel virus, which means it has never been seen in the human population before,
and therefore no one is immune to it. In origin, just like COVID, the first occurring case was in
China and then spreading from animals to humans. MEV-1, like Covid-19, is a respiratory illness
carried in expelled droplets of saliva from a sneeze, cough, or other secretions. It travels directly
between people and can often spread by fomites, or areas infected with pathogens after sick
people contact them. However, the chaos it causes is much more severe than what we're likely
to see as a result of our current pandemic. Its mortality rate seems to be a lot higher and unlike
SARS-CoV-2, which mostly affects the respiratory system, MEV-1 affects both the lungs and the
brain, inducing headaches and seizures as well as coughing and fever. Still, the film continues
to mirror the complexity and fear of the experience. As seen from the hurried efforts of public
health authorities to diagnose and control the outbreak, the chaos that ensues during a
pandemic, the eventual launch of a vaccine to stop the spread, and how people reacted to it.
People were left in a state of shock, fear, and confusion. Everyday routine, work, socialization,
recreation, and even alcohols and face masks were all taken away in less than a month.
Physical distancing and the importance of rigorous handwashing and not scratching our faces
are all topics of current public debate that were also seen in the movie.

Public officials play a vital role in dealing with such crises. Political leadership is needed to
maintain the delicate political, social, and economic balance of implementing containment
initiatives to lessen the effects of the pandemic while maintaining the availability of basic
services to its citizens. In the film, it was shown that officials were reluctant at first in accepting
the facts because indeed, some measures can disrupt people’s lives and especially the
economy. I can compare this to our government’s response in our country at the early stages of
the pandemic as an example. We can recall that time when we didn’t immediately close our
borders particularly from China because it could “hurt their feelings”. If I were to be an official in
our country, saving the live of the Filipino people should be my absolute priority because they’re
the people I’m serving to. The government is responsible for overall communication and
coordination. Possible immediate responses to stop the increasing number of cases would
include the following: first, identifying, selecting, and consulting the right experts, and lead the
pandemic preparedness and response coordination body; second, implement or change laws
and policies necessary to maintain and enhance pandemic preparedness. The health sector on
the other hand, in coordination with the government, will lead and provide guidance on the
measures needed to be done. I would suggest to the government that health-care coverage and
citizens’ well-being should be prioritized, maintained and would encourage that health-care
employees must be protected and fully supported. Example would be in terms of funding. One
current issue is about the 16B funding of the NTF-ELCAC for the year 2022. This government
agency has a history in unjustified red-tagging, most recent was against the organizer of the
Maginhawa Community Pantry, Anna Patricia Non, including celebrities Angel Locsin and Liza
Soberano. For this year, the agency has a budget of 19B. They have a huge budget then why
can’t they use it for intel instead of baseless red-tagging? Yes, security and order are also
important but in these times I think the people shouldn’t be our top enemy. So, I would also
suggest that certain funds should be cut off if necessary and will be used instead to aid in
addressing the basic needs of the citizens.

The film teaches us how epidemiologists classify people who may have had contact with
disease-infected people or contract tracing, in the form of Dr. Erin Mears. She represented one
of the many front-liners who are risking their lives right now to lead the world in overcoming this
crisis. Truly, I can say that this kind of job is suicide. And if I were in her shoes, I would still
continue despite knowing the risks. At least in this way, I can contribute to humanity in the
search of a solution to this problem. Because if I won’t do it, then who else will? I would think of
my loved ones, if I would remain in fear then there will be less progress in this case, in research
and that research could possibly help solve this problem and mitigate it. So, by doing so, I
believe that I have served and protected my loved ones in my own way and expertise. That
would make me feel proud of my role.

The media bears a critical responsibility as a source of information on science and

technology for people. Public understanding and perceptions toward those areas are heavily
influenced by science information interpretations transmitted by the news and other mass
media. This was also tackled in the film, particularly Misinformation. One character is a journalist
who directs his readers to disregard a successful vaccine produced by the CDC, while
attributing conspiratorial reasons to the CDC's efforts. Misinformation worsens a difficult
emotional circumstance. This could heighten one’s anxiety, fear-based behaviour may be
triggered by it creating havoc in the community. As Medtech students, we must recognize the
issue of misinformation and the possible implications. We have the duty not just to educate
others but also ourselves. We can use social media to combat fake news. We must avoid
spreading it, and have the courage to call out and politely correct those who shared it.

The pandemic has proved that in any global or national crisis cooperation, coordination,
and collaboration of the masses are necessary. Because together, we are stronger. In a global
scale, this has been proved by the WHO, member states working together to uphold the highest
standard of health for all. In the local level, simply cooperating with the authorities and following
protocols would save a person’s life. Bayanihan is also a good example. The pandemic has put
all of us in a state of uncertainty. From the economy, health, education; almost all of us missed
face-to-face classes, and relationships; our time in hanging out with friends have become limited
unlike before, those who are in a long-distance relationships as well, since there’s still travel
restrictions. Most of what lies ahead in life remains uncertain. But instead of trying to worry what
might happen in the future, this crisis taught me to focus our attention to what we have right
now. We were forced to face the fact that there are actually very few things in life that are really
necessary. We should be more grateful even in the smallest things, we might not notice it right
away, but in the end, it’s actually those things that matters the most. It made me realize how
fragile life can be yet precious. And I hope from this experience, we learn to value it even more.
The pandemic also taught us that when pushed to a difficult situation, we are given an
opportunity to change; to be ready at all times, to be resilient, and to be more empathetic
towards others. And I believe these unique experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic (that
could probably happen only once in our lifetime), be used as ways for us to grow as a person
and as better human beings.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK143067/

https://www.un.org/press/en/2020/ga12273.doc.htm

https://www.hollandhospital.org/healthylife/healthy-life
blogs/covid19_6_meaningful_lessons__208

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7721433/

https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n180

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1423258/lacson-parlades-tirades-could-cost-ntf-elcac-its-
budget

https://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/media/pdf/Contagion.pdf

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/04/02/movies/contagion-movie-versus-coronavirus-scn-
wellness/index.html