Are any of you scared of SARS?

[Steph]

I'm in Toronto, the "hotbed" of SARS in North America. I don't know if many people from Pixies are in T.O. (hmm, I feel another thread brewing in Personals for a Pixies T.O. get together) but I have become nervous about SARS.

Doctors have found patients with SARS who have no connection to any previous cases so it looks like it's spreading like wildfire.

On this Easter weekend, doctors have taken to asking people not to leave their homes if they experience just ONE symptom - high fever, severe headache, etc.

There doesn't seem to be any way to stem the tide. Have any of you in your abodes across the globe read many stories about SARS?

[Lilith]

I have issues with germs that kill people. There are cases not to far from me too.

They say a conclusive test is coming out soon to help docs but how many people in their waiting rooms will be sick with it for every one that walks in the door.

I just keep telling my kids to wash their hands!

[BlueSwede]

I have read some articles about it, yes, and I'm pleased with the progress being made worldwide in regard to it. I'm not scared for myself, but I am afraid for my fiance, who travels a lot by air for his business. I'm a hospital nurse who works nightly with many patients who have pneumonia, HIV, hepatitis, TB, various serious infections, and cancer. I can't afford to be afraid of anything my patients have, or I could never do my job.

It's my understanding that it is spread by "droplets," such as when an infected person sneezes. You'd have to be within so many feet of the person coughing or sneezing to be in danger of breathing in the droplets, because they're heavy enough to not travel that many feet from the infected person. It's important to be diligent about washing your hands, and if you are really, really concerned, if you think you might be in danger of being exposed, you can always wear a mask.

[Cheyanne]

Yeah, I have read about it. Has me concerned for everyone. SARS has supposidly mutated and is attacking the young and healthy now as well. Also, the CDC is having a difficult time pin-pointing the actual cause of it other than it seemed to start at leaking plumbing in Asia.

Also just got done reading Steven Kings "The Stand".... *shiver*... Sounds like Dr. Tripps.....

Steph - will keep you in our prayers and thoughts... keep us posted about you!!!!!

[Lilith]

Cheyanne~ My first thought when I first read about SARS some months ago was "The Stand"!!!

[Cheyanne]

Creepy isn't it? Now I am reading "The Hot Zone"... thinking about stopping and reading something lighthearted...

[Wrx`Gal]

im from singapore.. and its really getting worst ard the whole asia..... -_-"

hopefullie..... they find a cure ASAP!

[BigBear57]

I think my first thought was my Aussie friends, as I had heard there was an outbreak over there. I'm, as Chey said, concerned for everyone. I'll keep the prayers for the cure and for our families' health coming as I'm sure we all are.

[Steph]

Toronto has just reported the 14th death to SARS. To date, 182 people have died worldwide. The new Chinese President has asked the health authorities to tell the truth and tell us how bad it really is. If they've been hiding information, the stats could be higher.

The woman who just died in Toronto was 99 but they're saying now that young people could be at risk, too.

Toronto is suffering because of this mysterious syndrome. Restaurants are laying people off because nobody wants to go out, Hewlett Packard had to put all their employees into quarantine because one jerk who was exposed decided to go to work. It's crazy!

I know I'm living cheque to cheque right now and fear getting a symptom that would make me stay home. People are trying to get the government to allow people in quarantine to receive Employment Insurance benefits. When is it going to end?

People travel so much and come into contact with so many people, I can't see how they can stem the tide.

[Bilbo]

I beleive everyone has some concerns when anything has been found to harm Humans, and I'm sure we all feel for those who have suffered already

But thankfully!
Originally posted by BigBear57
I think my first thought was my Aussie friends, as I had heard there was an outbreak over there.

To date there is no confirmed case of SARS in Australia, one has been confirmed in New Zealand. Suppose we are Lucky in many aspects of our Isolation to the rest of the world, thankfully the internet and sites like pixies, brings us together as a family.

[Steph]

Yes, Bilbo., there was a scare but your country has remained safe. I recall a few weeks ago some young children from Canada were in Australia when it was discovered they were exposed to SARS so your government put them in quarantine right away which stemmed the tide in Australia.

Quick action like that also saved the west coast of Canada from the outbreak. There is a large Asian population there but a doctor quickly realized how serious one case was, kept that person isolated and all was well.

Toronto, however, is the most multicultural city in the world and the cases soon spread here.

[Cheyanne]

Update on cases and countries
As of today, a cumulative total of 3547 cases with 182 deaths have been reported from 25 countries. Compared with yesterday, 12 new deaths, all in Hong Kong SAR, have been reported.

http://www.who.int/csr/sarsarchive/en/

http://www.who.int/csr/sarsarchive/2003_04_19/en/

And to think, from what I have read about SARS, if China had reported it immediately and took control over the situation, this outbreak wouldn't have spread to this level.

[Steph]

I konw, Cheyanne! Apparently, Chinese officials kept the outbreak under wraps because it would have interfered with Communist Party anniversary celebrations! Thanks!

[seriousfun]

I drive 50+ miles a day on the Los Angeles freeways - nothing scares me!

I just got back from a convention in Las Vegas. 5 Days of shaking hands, and a bottle of hand sanitizer empty. The chances of getting SARS, or any other communicable disease, from just being out in public, is one in many, many billions, and shouldn't scare us, as long as we take basic precautions.

Histeria will just lead to more death, xenophobia, and ill will.

[Steph]

I'm not hysterical or anything. I do, however, worry about people who break quarantine. They're not taking the health of others into consideration.

[Cheyanne]

What concerns me is what Steph indicated... some people either break quarantine, or initially aren't aware that they have the disease and infect others. I just have a feeling of foreboding regarding SARS. Initially, like many viruses, the CDC and WHO, aren't sure as to how it developed, where the "Hot Zone" is, other than in China, if it's host initially was an insect, animal, or an organic substance. Because SARS can be transmitted assumed, not verified) via human touch, either directly (handshaking) in indirectly (someone sneezes and the droplets float in the air and settle on a person or object) according to the CDC, quarantine is really the only way to stop the spread. What is the concern of the CDC is how long is someone a carrier and can infect others before the symptoms are present?

The other concern expressed is that now SARS has mutated and is effecting the healty and young, not just the infirm or elderly.

WW death total is now 218 and over 3,000 people are infected. (Within a 3 month time period)