Chinese peasants, lacking the medical knowhow and funds to fight the deadly SARS virus, are lighting firecrackers and kowtowing to the Buddha to scare off the "god of plague".Sure, that'll help. Funny they don't mention the Chinese herbal meds people think will help.
Some farmers in Shanxi, the hard-hit northern province near SARS-infested Beijing, set off firecrackers in the belief they would help to frighten off SARS, the official Xinhua news agency said on its Web site, www.xinhuanet.com.
Rumours that SARS was a natural disaster "brought on by spirits" or "haunting genies" were circulating in some parts of the countryside, and farmers were burning joss sticks before Buddhist statues and praying for good fortune, Xinhua said.
Wednesday, May 7
Reuters reports China farmers fight SARS spirits with firecrackers ("China farmers"?):
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