If Ruby and Isobel strictly followed medical advice, they'd never be allowed to touch

‘You might as well try stopping the tide’

Not so long ago, people with cystic fibrosis (CF) went to camp together, shared hospital rooms and played at mothers’ groups.
Until it was discovered they were spreading deadly bacteria to each other.
Now people with CF are told to follow the “six-foot rule” — an everyday medical protocol that says they should stay at least six feet, or two metres, away from each other.
So how does it work for 11-year-old Ruby and her sister Isobel? Their mum tells Kirsti Melville there’s not much she can do to keep them apart.
You might have diseases on your mind at the moment, but behaviour can be contagious too.
A benign example might be copying someone else’s yawn. It gets more complex and terrifying when you start talking about copycat crimes, as Sana Qadar discovers on the latest episode of All In The Mind.
And in times of turmoil, poetry and language have important roles to play. On this week’s Soul Search, Irish poet Pádraig Ó Tuama reflects on peace and reconciliation.
Until next time,
Rosie Ryan, Digital Editor

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