Ask an Expert

This tick threat is news to me

(China Daily)
Updated: 2011-06-17 07:36

Would you try the new hospital appointment system to be issued in July?

Definitely. I love trying new things. But for people from other provinces and those who don't know how to log on to the Internet, it might be too much work for them. I'm quite confident though that the new system will finally replace the traditional one, as long as the new policy is meant to bring benefits to the public and it is efficiently implemented. It's just a matter of time.

Have you ever heard of a tick before? What do you think of the recent tick infection in Changping district?

No, I have never heard of a tick. I don't even know how to pronounce it. The only insects that bite people, I know, are hornets and slug moths. Those bites really hurt. And I mean, really hurt. Seemingly the ticks are active with animals, like dogs and cows, where the sanitary conditions, I bet, are relatively poorer. I've got a friend who raises a dog and that's my very first time to witness a flea in my whole life.

I don't really worry about infection though. Only a few cases have been reported so far and the infection hasn't spread yet. It still sounds scary though that an insect bite could kill people. However, the government should do something to kill the ticks and curb the infection. I do admire the resolution of the Germany government in dealing with the bacteria infection. We should learn from them.

Are you looking forward to the remote control system to be installed in August to prevent cab robbery?

Not really. I only care how much they'll charge for the system rather than its function. I bet more than 80 percent of the cab drivers would say no if they charge us money for the installation. There's already an alarm system installed in the cab and I'm not sure what the new system is for. As for the old one, I've never used it against theft or robbery. Neither have my colleagues. I've heard of a cab driver trying to push the alarm button once when being threatened by a robber, but the system failed to work in the end.

(China Daily 06/17/2011 page7)