OPINION

No Zika fears here

I think back to February when, in response to a newly diagnosed case of Zika, an official told us not to panic as Thailand had never had an epidemic of the virus and all cases were one-offs.

Today I see there are 22 new cases, 30 pregnant women infected nationally and the virus identified in seven provinces. The advice today from various health officials: don't panic.

At what point does this become an epidemic and at what point do the various health authorities co-ordinate action? Have they set up a team to work across the agencies responsible and what is the strategy? Reminds me of the joke about the guy who jumps off the 30th floor and is heard on the way down saying repeatedly "so far, so good".

I agree that for most of the population Zika is not a great concern, but for pregnant women it is and hence everyone should be concerned.

As an aside, if it's not so serious , why are the 22 new cases in quarantine for 30 days?

Re "Climate path is clear," (PostBag, Sept 12).

Only a bureaucrat could proudly write that Europe's GDP has increased 46% since 1990 while carbon emissions have declined 23% in the same period. That translates to an average annual economic growth rate of less than 2%.

That is hardly something to be proud of. Perhaps the billions of euros required to subsidise low-carbon energy sources is more of a drag on the economy than these diplomats wish to acknowledge.

Thailand and the EU would both be better off if the Heads of Mission worked towards liberalising trade between Thailand and Europe rather than lecturing us from their nicely air-conditioned embassies about the virtues of low-carbon living.

Truth often hurts, and I wonder how much rebuke Mr JC Wilcox's Sept 13 letter will generate. Unfortunately for the apologists of globalisation, nothing about what he writes can be truer.

For all the supposed evil that Sondhi Limthongkul might have done, I'd like to highlight one of the best, most positive things he will be remembered for. His publishing house was going to publish 20 of the best contemporary Thai novels, translated into English by well known translator, Marcel Barang. Only eight made it to press.

I was introduced to some of the great Thai classics in English which were available at the Neilson-Hayes Library in Bangkok.

One such translation into English is The Story of Jan Darra, a novel written by Utsana Phleungtham. The original Thai version was printed in 1966 as Rueng Khong Jan Darra, with Marcel Barang's translated edition published in 1995.

I have never in my 20 years in Thailand encountered either a Thai adult or student who is familiar with contemporary Thai authors, nor having ever read any of their works in Thai.

I consider myself fortunate. It has taken me a while, but I have eight of the English translations plus Marcel Barang's anthology. These books are treasures. So for whatever one can condemn Sondhi for, let us also praise him for giving us at least eight brilliant English translations in print.

And we are indebted to Marcel Barang for translating them. Good luck, Sondhi. I hope one day you will permit Mr Marcel to finish his translations and you will publish the rest of these books.

I live in Chiang Mai and have the Post delivered to my house. It seems the Post is getting skimpy. The last few days have had no TV/movie/what Thai newspapers report sections. Have other readers noticed the same?