While I realise that it is unsavoury to mock the afflicted, it is difficult not to burst out laughing at the poor gullible buggers in the 2022 Convoy to Canberra, who received a Facebook post, presumably from one of the organisers. This post read:
“Hi beautiful EPIC tribe hears [sic] a quick update from your camp organisers about the kitchen situaton [sic].
As you all know we had [a] visit from the Health Protection Services people today because of the really bad gastro in camp and the pink eye. We can still make the food for everyone but we have to wear the food hygine [sic] or they will shut the kitchen. As a result we are need [sic] all the spare masks, hand sanitising and gloves in camp. If you have any then take [them] to the kitchen please.
Thank you beautiful people!”1
The Health Protection Service is part of the Australian Capital Territory Department of Health and deals with food-related complaints or concerns, or for advice on food business regulation and safety and hygiene requirements2.
Pink-eye is an American name for conjunctivitis and it is an inflammation or infection of the transparent membrane (conjunctiva) that lines your eyelid and covers the white part of your eyeball. It can be caused by simple irritation, or a bacterial or viral infection3.
The infection that is termed ‘gastro’ is gastroenteritis and can be caused by viruses, bacteria (e.g. Salmonella), parasites (e.g. Giardia) or assorted toxic chemicals4.
I suspect the irony of these anti-mandate, antivaxxers, and QAnon nutters being examined by health professionals for a communicable infection, and their kitchen staff being mandated to wear food hygiene equipment (gloves, masks) and use hand sanitising chemicals is lost on them.
As I suggest above, it is difficult not to burst out laughing, and that effort was beyond me. I am sorry for mocking the afflicted.
Sources