CDC Investigates Mysterious Illness (still don't know: virus or bacteria)

FoxNews ^ | March 16, 2003 | AP

[FairOpinion]

ATLANTA — Federal health officials said Sunday they are analyzing samples from a mysterious pneumonia-like illness that has afflicted more than 150 people in seven countries and caused nine deaths.

They are also handing out information cards to travelers from countries where the disease has appeared, asking them to see a doctor if they experience symptoms such as high fever or respiratory problems.

[FairOpinion]

Why do I get the feeling that they basically don't have a clue?

And after a week, why is it they still don't have a clue?

They don't even know whether it's a bacteria or virus?!!!!

[birdwoman]

Thanks for this article!

If you want more info on this subject, try a keyword search on: SARS

[CathyRyan]

I am wondering what is really going on in Guandong Province.

[maestro]

They don't even know whether it's a bacteria or virus?!!!!

?.....Why can it not be BOTH,..... a morphing/mutation/cancer.....'Virus-Bacteria'...???

ie. a bacteria which 'has' a virus!

:-(

[ysoitanly]

I'm not a tin-hatter, but this reeks to me. All of a sudden a 'new' fatal disease hits, originated and spread by foreigners let's be honest. I don't like this at all - especially since I worked for a biotech company for seven years and the first thing you can usually do is identify it as a virus, or a 'germ' - which we don't seem able to do at this point. Since it doesn't react to antibiotics, it most surely leans towards a virus, but the fact that it doesn't respond to treatment - period - is not good. Again, no tin hat alert, but a serious concern nonetheless.

[Plutarch]

I'm not a tin-hatter...

No need to apologize. CDC is taking this very "series", no reason why we shouldn't too. There have been bioterrorism attacks in the U.S., and around the world. If the microbiologists, pathologists and physicians "don't have a clue" that gives us no choice but to examine the clues we know about.

[Old Professer]

In 1990 during Bush the Elder's reign, Jim Henson came down suddenly ill with SARS, diagnosed certainly only posthumously as Strep A; stay away from hospitals, restaurants and airports and you'll be okay.

[ysoitanly]

Very true. And you usually examine the demographics of the population that is 'catching' this virus/developing symptoms - doesn't seem isolated to old, young, a particular ethnic group, etc. which makes it all the more difficult. And it's an obviously very virile strain and its newness raises 'series' implications. My guess, as a lay person but with exposure to biotech, is that it's been cooked up somehow in poultry or livestock, tested, and been passed on to the human population. Funny, in an ironic sense, that we don't hear much about 'West Nile' any more - I believe because the reported cases have diminished; it's certainly not because we've figured it out.

[11th_VA]

From the Spanish Flu Pandemic (1918):

[wolficatZ]

You should know better than to post pics here linking to a secure government server, ie. "https"

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the heads up!

[xkaydet65]

It took several weeks to ID Legionnaires Disiease when it first appeared in Philly. And that was right here in the states. You have different levels of medical and research facilities that are the centers of investigation, and despite the involvement of WHO there's not been a lot of coordination.

We'll probably get a clearer idea when this Canadian cluster and the MD on the plane are studied and specimens sent to CDC

It seems, from desriptions, to act like a virus. In fact it seems like influenza. If that's the case there could be trouble as we've never cured influenza, or most other viruses. We've treated symptoms and produced vaccines. Barring a Captain Tripps scenario that's probably the way this will turn out.

[mysterio]

Most likely a very slow growing bacteria. That's what tuberculosis is. An unidentified bacteria that grows extremely slowly might be hard to identify quickly. I wonder if they have examined lung tissue from any of the victims of this strange disease?

Traditional antibiotics act to inhibit the cell wall building activities of the bacteria. If the organism is resistant, however, other methods should be tried. Perhaps a "cocktail" of antiviral drugs and vancomycin should be tried. This should be somewhat effective unless the disease is fungal. Can prions affect lung tissue? Are there any freepers out there that have researched prions?

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

***Why do I get the feeling that they basically don't have a clue? *****

They don't have a clue because they are too busy trying to prove guns are a disease!

[capitan_refugio]

I'm going to say it is a new offshoot of a know virus. Each time a virus passes through another type of vector, it changes a little bit. I'm guessing, since this thing started in China, it is going to have avian and porcine roots.

[capitan_refugio]

know = known

Doh!

[mysterio]

You could be right. I wonder if they've examined any infected tissue.

[Judith Anne]

Yes, they have, according to reports. No pathogen identified.