[Desk Column] COVID-19 and Pseudoscience

Is science, which means 'universal truth,' supposed to fight against 'ignorance,' 'prejudice,' or 'pseudo-science' disguised as knowledge? This question points to Oregon, USA, where there is turmoil over children's measles vaccinations. Measles is highly contagious, so the pro-vaccination side insists it must be administered, while the opposing side stubbornly resists, citing 'medical reasons.' Claims include developing autism after vaccination (1), experiencing paralysis symptoms after vaccination (2), and aluminum contained in vaccines causing side effects (3). But is that really the case?

The stance of medical experts is completely different. Autism is congenital and unrelated to vaccines (1), causality for (2) has not been proven, and the amount of aluminum accumulated in our bodies under normal circumstances is much higher (3).

Once a belief is established, it is not easily changed. Religious reasons, political backgrounds, personal experiences... whatever it may be, science becomes infinitely diminished at this moment. As a result, Oregon's vaccination rate falls far below the US average. Measles, which had disappeared in 2000, has reemerged as a headache for the United States.

This is also what 'science evangelist' Carl Sagan wanted to say in a 'world haunted by evil spirits.' 'People do not believe what they should believe, but what they want to believe.' The psychology behind drinking soju for several days with a cold and then feeling better, or performing rain rituals during a drought while waiting for rain, is the same. In fact, there is no causal relationship between soju and colds, or rain rituals and rain. A healthy adult would naturally recover from a cold after a few days, and rain rituals would continue until it rains.

It has been 35 days since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in Korea. Just when it seemed to be under control, the dam of an epidemic like 'Shincheonji' finally broke. Not knowing when this fear and confusion will end, we stand between science and non-science.

Science is this: COVID-19 has a higher transmission rate than Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) or Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), but its fatality rate is lower than SARS (10%) and MERS (30%). The inverse relationship between fatality rate and transmission rate is common in the virus world because the host needs to be healthy for more transmission opportunities. Jared Diamond interpreted this from an evolutionary perspective in 'Guns, Germs, and Steel.' "By evolving in a way that keeps victims alive longer, the virus could spread its offspring to more victims than before." The reason for diarrhea or coughing when infected with a virus is the same. "From the pathogen's perspective, it is a clever evolutionary strategy to spread itself."

Non-science is this: some pastors' reckless remarks that COVID-19 is God's punishment for sinners; false agitation that God's judgment spreads through air, not contact (droplets); delusions of pseudo-religions claiming they receive God's grace and do not need modern medicine; and fake news and false information appearing like evil spirits in the gaps.

Of course, science does not explain everything. Science often takes time because it doubts and verifies itself for errors. "It is not yet time to make optimistic judgments." Even when no confirmed cases appeared for three days, quarantine authorities did not lower their guard. This was due to reasonable suspicion that the possibility of additional infections was not zero (0). In that sense, President Moon Jae-in's mention of 'end' was premature. It was an approach to a scientific issue with a non-scientific 'political judgment.' In critical times, scientific thinking must be the starting point of everything. Although we may seem powerless in the face of immediate fear, ultimately, science is what we must rely on.