New Travel Warnings about SARS...doesn't affect everyone.

Eug

Lifer
Mar 11, 2000
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Here is the WHO advisory.

Personally, I think they're overreacting, and a lot of people would agree.
 

Looney

Lifer
Jun 13, 2000
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Originally posted by: Eug
Here is the WHO advisory.

Personally, I think they're overreacting, and a lot of people would agree.

It seems wierd... it certainly doesn't seem like an epidemic when only a few thousands are infected, and only a few hundreds have died. But why is the CDC, WHO, China's medical experts, and hospitals around here in Toronto freaking out? Do they know something we don't know? And don't say it's the media... the war in Iraq was still main event when the CDC and WHO were all paranoid about this. Really, why are the medical experts so freaked out about this? I've been hearing that they want to put electronic trackers on people to make sure they stay quarantined... and now Toronto is on the WHO warning list. China has been shutting down schools as well... and the Chinese media are more known for suppressing things than overhyping them.

 

Eug

Lifer
Mar 11, 2000
24,175
1,815
126
Originally posted by: Moralpanic
Originally posted by: Eug
Here is the WHO advisory.

Personally, I think they're overreacting, and a lot of people would agree.

It seems wierd... it certainly doesn't seem like an epidemic when only a few thousands are infected, and only a few hundreds have died. But why is the CDC, WHO, China's medical experts, and hospitals around here in Toronto freaking out? Do they know something we don't know? And don't say it's the media... the war in Iraq was still main event when the CDC and WHO were all paranoid about this. Really, why are the medical experts so freaked out about this? I've been hearing that they want to put electronic trackers on people to make sure they stay quarantined... and now Toronto is on the WHO warning list. China has been shutting down schools as well... and the Chinese media are more known for suppressing things than overhyping them.
IIRC, representatives from Toronto AND the CDC both say the WHO travel advisory about Toronto is unwarranted.

Anyways, I think the hooplah is due to the fact that this is a new disease, but a disease the system has a chance to keep under control. Better to err on the overdoing it side I guess.

As for the Chinese, they have to make up for lost time. They've been hiding this for months and finally have admitted it. Now they can better protect their people and not look as bad in world eyes at the same time.
 

Looney

Lifer
Jun 13, 2000
21,938
5
0
Of course Toronto doesn't want to be on the advisory list... it's already killing business up there without it, now imagine what's going to happen with it being on the list. My friend's restaurant had to close down for renovation because he was losing so much business... at least this gives him 2-3 months to do what he's wanted to do for awhile.

Anyways, I think the hooplah is due to the fact that this is a new disease, but a disease the system has a chance to keep under control. Better to err on the overdoing it side I guess.

Why SARs? There's only 14 deaths i believe in Ontario... last year alone, there were almost 120 deaths from West Nile virus i believe in Ontario. It's nothing new... and certainly there wasn't even 1/100th of the attention to it from the medical community. We have entire hospitals that are quarantined, medical experts demanding electronic tracking on infected people, entire city being declared unsafe to travel to... and the ONLY people that seem to be concern on the medical experts. Really, the only people that seem to be paranoid are the medical experts... even around here in Toronto, most people i talk to think it's just hype.

As for the Chinese, they have to make up for lost time. They've been hiding this for months and finally have admitted it. Now they can better protect their people and not look as bad in world eyes at the same time.

I don't buy that. The Chinese have never really cared what the rest of the world thinks... why is it starting now?
 

rudder

Lifer
Nov 9, 2000
19,441
86
91
Originally posted by: Moralpanic
Originally posted by: Eug
Here is the WHO advisory.

Personally, I think they're overreacting, and a lot of people would agree.

It seems wierd... it certainly doesn't seem like an epidemic when only a few thousands are infected, and only a few hundreds have died. But why is the CDC, WHO, China's medical experts, and hospitals around here in Toronto freaking out? Do they know something we don't know? And don't say it's the media... the war in Iraq was still main event when the CDC and WHO were all paranoid about this. Really, why are the medical experts so freaked out about this? I've been hearing that they want to put electronic trackers on people to make sure they stay quarantined... and now Toronto is on the WHO warning list. China has been shutting down schools as well... and the Chinese media are more known for suppressing things than overhyping them.

Officials are worried because there is no treatment for SARS at this time. Granted if you are healthy and catch SARS, you have an excellent chance of survival. If you are older and have a weakened immune system, then watch out. Since there is no treatment I beleive caution is definetly in order,especially when the virus can live outside the body for some time. You don't want the virus mutating before a treatment can be found.