#MINDANAO By JOHN TRIA John Tria All the anxieties about the corona virus is given a new energy by the discovery of bird flu in nearby Taiwan and swine flu in a remote part of Mindanao. People seem to treat such events as though it was a fire erupting right beside them, their online posts screaming for the need to blame others and their culture for "spreading the disease".  These are shared quickly via smartphone and create panic and disinformation. Yet what's missing in all the online discussions, drowned out by the anxiety are the facts about how previous viral outbreaks were contained. Perhaps that's what the millions of online citizens can contribute- solutions, and how these worked well in the past. These could help guide our present initiatives and calm our fears.  Note how those severly affected have compromised immune systems. For one, we already know enough about these viruses to understand how to prevent transmission. We already have a history of containing SARS, Merscov and the bird flu. We know that healthy lifestyles, a strong immune system, along with special precautions such as masks can prevent our own human exposure to many types of flu, including the latest ones. At an individual level, to be debilitated by fear and dreadly anxious should no longer be the case. For the Swine Flu, strict enforcement of bans will be needed, and encouraging raisers not to use swill feeding methods, or kanin baboy, as infected pork products may be consumed by healthy pigs, making them sick. The swine flu virus survives meat processing. While Humans are unaffected by this virus, our food supply will if this is not contained right away. We have successfully done so in the past and there is no reason why we cannot contain it again. The quick response of government and hog sector are lauded for their collective effort to contain it. The public is urged to help in this effort. Having said that, any threat to our food supply is a threat to our economic growth and political stability. The long term health of our population and poverty reduction efforts will depend on our food supply. With this, the blaming and stigma will not reduce the threat these viruses and health issues bring. If anything, they reduce confidence in our ability to impose measures that have proven successful in the past. To be prejudiced and bigoted is one thing we must avoid if we are to tackle this problem head on. It only fragments our efforts further and weakens our ability to deal with these issues. A weak and polarized society prevents collective efforts from addressing common problems. The same is true with calamities. That said, we have to admire those who at the height of crises choose to be part of the solution. Looking back at history, those  who eventually help solve the problem will be listened to, appreciated. Hipster critics and those choosing to heighten the stigma and fear will be chastised as making political hay out of the midfortune of others. They will just keep talking, contributing little, if nothing to help. Should we be part of the stigma, or part of the solution. That is a choice in a democracy. What more people must understand is that the spread of these viruses have been stopped, and can be halted with shared cooperation and compassion unity.