SARS. I don't buy it.

[BaliBabyDoc]

Latest news is that its a new type of coronavirus, so actually not really like pneumonia since that's bacterial (pneumococcus), although the end result of massive inflammation and damage to the lungs is pretty similar.

Actually it's almost exactly like a VIRAL pneumonia. My current clinical instructor, Division Chief of Pediatric Infectious Disease, is pretty worried. He's old as dirt, so when the fossils start to sweat you know there's trouble. Infectious Disease (ID) bigwigs (including my instructor) had a conference call last week. The problems as I believe Fausto1 noted:

1) New virus?
2) Uncertain mode(s) of transmission - some info out of Guangdong and HK implies it may be moving by airborne particles, water, and fomites (particles settle on an object and someone later has contact with the object).
3) Fatality rate of 3% is impressive . . . especially considering the ease with which the ailment spreads.
4) It is almost certainly viral so the only treatment is supportive care (food, fluids, rest, intubation if necessary).
5) Early symptomology is consistent with many community-acquired upper respiratory tract infections . . . but colds and the VAST majority of pneumonias RARELY kill otherwise healthy people . . . SARS apparently does not discriminate it takes the strong and the weak.

One perspective would be to compare it to VX exposure . . . the symptoms of a nonlethal and a lethal exposure are often difficult to discern . . . until you crump and die. Hence, EVERY exposure is treated like it is potentially fatal.

 

[AndrewR]

Tell that to my cousin who contracted it on a business trip to South Korea. Must be a figment of his imagination, huh? :|

 

[HappyNic]

Originally posted by: KC5AV
I'm telling you, it's a biological attack from Iraq. We're all DOOMED.

na, more likely from the US, since China is aganist our War in Iraq. Are there any in France? j/k

 

[ColdFusion718]

Originally posted by: manuelku
wonder will you be in the fear if AIDS can be transmit via air.. I think SARS is quite some serious sh*t... especially my parents are in hk

Hope they'll be ok man.

 

[tcsenter]

In this world, we can't even distinguish between British Tornado jets and Iraqi Scuds with the most sophisticated radar equipment available (not to mention that one would hope that a few dollars of the Pentagon's quarter trillion dollar budget would be spent paying some guy to keep track of where allied planes were flying). We also have doctors giving patients the wrong organ transplants and courts executing people who are later found to be completeley innocent.

What a bizarre way to ask questions about a developing public health crisis, by starting with inane commentary on British Tornado Jets that have nothing whatsoever to do with anything relating to SARS or public health issues? Strange.

So what is your training or qualifications in the area of public health which might serve as a good foundation for your 'conclusions'?

The mortality rate of tuberculosis & # of people infected are both far more than SARS. Why isn't there such a fear of that?...

Because tuberculosis is a known quantity and its quite treatable with a few months of IV antibiotic therapy.

 

[Mill]

I have thought one of the main problems was its lack or treatability and that it kills those in good health as much as those in bad health.

 

[chowderhead]

I feel much of the hype and hysteria is media driven. Remember the shark attacks that was all the rage in the summer of 2001? That was media driven. Hanta Virus from 1993? Ebola?
I don't think they point out enough that for now the VAST majority of those who come down with the SAR disease survive.
HIV and the AIDS virus has an eventual 100% mortality rate.

So why haven't you found a cure for it yet? You do work for the CDC, don't you. I guess you won't getting a bonus

It is believed SAR is a viral disease. I don't believe in the history of human medicine that we have EVER found a cure for a viral disease. We may have immunized/prevented infection but I don't think we have ever cured a viral disease.
That being said, SARs is of concern but I think the media is blowing this way out of proportion because it is believed to be a new variant of a disease and it is a distraction from the war.
my 2 cents.

 

[billandopus]

Originally posted by: glugglug
I agree with Alphathree.

The mortality rate of tuberculosis & # of people infected are both far more than SARS. Why isn't there such a fear of that?...

Because it's new.

 

[falconx80]

If you have seen the movie bowling for columbine, doesnt this SARS thing go back to what michael moore was saying how the media/us dept of health/justice, tries to keep everyone afraid, and there fore keeping everyone consuming (buying unnecessary drugs, safty measures)...

Its defn a risk going to HK but, you shouldn't be afraid of going out or avoiding doing normal daily tasks here in the US. Afterall, if you were living in HK, wouldn't you try to leave the place. You dont stop living b/c of someone said theres no cure for a virus. Be cautious but dont be afraid.

If you are constantly afraid of every single possible thing that can happen to you, eventually you can't do anything at all or you become insane.

 

[jazzhound]

What concerns me is the ease of propagation, that and the fact that it brings down healthy adults. The sooner the war is done and forgotten (well, atleast done) we can channel the much needed resources on this. In the meantime I can be reached in my under ground habitat.

See you in a year or two..

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: jazzhound
What concerns me is the ease of propagation, that and the fact that it brings down healthy adults. The sooner the war is done and forgotten (well, atleast done) we can channel the much needed resources on this. In the meantime I can be reached in my under ground habitat.

See you in a year or two..

Yes. We know. You're paranoid to the point of absudity. We've been over this already.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Since the most likely culprit is a cold like virus, expect to see a cure for this about the same time as for the common cold. Hard to know for sure, but if enough funding is given, and medical science does not hit some unforseen stumbling block, maybe fifty or a hundred years?

Anyway, here is a nice little thought. The fatality rate as BBD has quoted is about 3 percent as a best estimate. Data from China is always suspect though. In any case close enough

Now, suppose a spontaneous mutation into something really nasty, or if some power get ahold of this and "improves" it for a bio weapon.


Just thought I would feed the flames of paranoia for ya.

BTW, certain viral hepatitis infections can be cured more than half the time, so our track record for curing viral infections is improving.

Will this become the next Pandemic? No one knows, but it is a helluva lot "catchier" than most serious diseases.

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: Alphathree33
Why is there so much fear surrounding this disease?

cause people are insanely paranoid.. as i've said before.. your chances of dying of a heart attack while worrying about it are greater than actually contracting the disease and dying.

 

[jazzhound]

Originally posted by: Fausto1

Originally posted by: jazzhound
What concerns me is the ease of propagation, that and the fact that it brings down healthy adults. The sooner the war is done and forgotten (well, atleast done) we can channel the much needed resources on this. In the meantime I can be reached in my under ground habitat.

See you in a year or two..

Yes. We know. You're paranoid to the point of absudity. We've been over this already.

And you are ?
Edited: addressed the wrong person. It's absurdity. Learn to spell correctly before you denounce someone. Carries more credibility that way.

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: jazzhound

Originally posted by: Fausto1

Originally posted by: jazzhound
What concerns me is the ease of propagation, that and the fact that it brings down healthy adults. The sooner the war is done and forgotten (well, atleast done) we can channel the much needed resources on this. In the meantime I can be reached in my under ground habitat.

See you in a year or two..

Yes. We know. You're paranoid to the point of absudity. We've been over this already.

And you are ?
Edited: addressed the wrong person. It's absurdity. Learn to spell correctly before you denounce someone. Carries more credibility that way.

The guy who ended a relationship due to an irrational fear of SARS and is well down the road to becoming a "bubble boy" is lecturing me on credibility? That's rich.

Oh, and learn to recognize the difference between an obvious typo and a spelling error before you get all indignant, alright?

Now back in the bubble.......you don't know what all might be living on that keyboard.

 

[JSang]

Originally posted by: glugglug
I agree with Alphathree.

The mortality rate of tuberculosis & # of people infected are both far more than SARS. Why isn't there such a fear of that?...

yeah, but we havnet seen what sars can do yet.... it hasnt had time to spread like tb. we have no idea how bad it will get..

 

[lsman]

Well, here is some info i know/read of:
US Diplomats and their dependents were offer free flights out of China.
there are 177 cases where health care staff got SARS in HK. 1 died (doctor, her wife also got it), 10+ cases of United Hospital are from the handling of Amoy Cardens resident (over 180 cases as of 4/1). They wear no special protector wear and with average mask(3 mask a day per person, not the N95 type).
there are total 36 school children got it in HK. where half of them are new cases after the school closing since 3/27.
many of them from the outbreak of Amoy Gardens E block.
As of Friday, 26 new cases. About same number of cases on Thursday.

 

[bonk102]

this in my mind is much like hte plague was to the middle ages, natures way of weeding down the population because we have grown too large to sustain on this planet.

 

[lsman]

doc who was the first WHO officer to identify the outbreak of this new disease died

 

[falconx80]

Originally posted by: bonk102
this in my mind is much like hte plague was to the middle ages, natures way of weeding down the population because we have grown too large to sustain on this planet.

yes, i believe that was darwin's theory...the strong dominate the weak over ration, dieases, and battle

 

[NogginBoink]

Originally posted by: spankyOO7

Originally posted by: glugglug
I agree with Alphathree.

The mortality rate of tuberculosis & # of people infected are both far more than SARS. Why isn't there such a fear of that?...

has it spread as quickly as SARS? is it as contagious as SARS? btw, i'm asking for real... not trying to be a jackass

Tuberculosis is EXTREMELY contagious, and there are multiple-drug-resistant strains out there. TB is a very real public health threat throughout much of the world, including the United States.

SARS is so scary because (in my opinion):
-it's very contagious
-its effects are quick
-it is fatal in some cases
-very little is known about it
-it's new