Cause of Mystery Disease Believed Found (Coronavirus)

AP Online via COMTEX ^ | Mar 24, 2003 | DIRK BEVERIDGE

[LPStar]

All kidding aside, I don't imagine Corona beer manufacturers are too thrilled right now.

[aristeides]

Uh oh. Does this mean it spreads as easily as the common cold?

[IncPen]

Ping

[jiggyboy]

Some of the sickest Hong Kong patients were receiving injections of antibodies obtained from victims who have recovered

Wow, this is like one of those science fiction stories where they're on Mars and said "it's a long shot, but it Just Might Work" right before the commercial.

[CygnusXI]

Am I reading this wrong or is this a virus, that acts (ie spreads) like a cold, and has an appx 5% mortality rate?
---with no treatment other than a hopefull autoimmune sys.

That's peachy. You all know at work EVERYONE get's a cold.

"Hey Joe what's up?"
"Eh? Nothin'. Just lost 5% of our company to the CORONA."
"Mass Funeral at 2pm"

[ProudArmyWife]

Well, I was told that the Corona virus could not be passed to humans. Maybe this is a different strain of it or something. I specifically asked because our ferrets ran around the house all the time (potty trained) I then contacted my doctor and asked him the same his reply was *not possible* So, I am afraid I cannot help you.

[Mother Abigail]

SECTION I - INFECTIOUS AGENT
NAME: Human coronavirus

SYNONYM OR CROSS REFERENCE: Viral respiratory disease, viral gastroenteritis

CHARACTERISTICS: Coronaviridae; first isolated in 1965, spherical enveloped virion, 80-160 nm in diameter, crown-like in appearance, club-shaped peplomars, single-stranded, linear, non-segmented, positive-sense RNA genome;

SECTION II - HEALTH HAZARD

PATHOGENICITY: Usually produce an afebrile cold in adults, characterized by nasal discharge, and malaise; may exacerbate respiratory symptoms in asthmatic and chronic pulmonary disease patients; implicated in gastroenteritis; greater occurrence in children; maybe associated with pneumonia and pleural reactions, rarely manifests in neurological complications; immunity is serotype specific; antigenic heterogeneity allows for multiple symptomatic reinfections

EPIDEMIOLOGY: Worldwide; major cause of respiratory disease between late fall and early winter; accounts for 10-30% of all colds

HOST RANGE: Humans

INFECTIOUS DOSE: Not known

MODE OF TRANSMISSION: By inhalation of aerosols; respiratory transmission from person-to-person; indirectly through fomites

INCUBATION PERIOD: From 2 to 5 days

COMMUNICABILITY: Communicable during the acute and convalescent stages of the disease

SECTION III - DISSEMINATION

RESERVOIR: Humans

ZOONOSIS: None

VECTORS: None

SECTION IV - VIABILITY

DRUG SUSCEPTIBILITY: No specific antivirals

SUSCEPTIBILITY TO DISINFECTANTS: Susceptible to 1% sodium hypochlorite, 2% glutaraldehyde

PHYSICAL INACTIVATION: Sensitive to heat

SURVIVAL OUTSIDE HOST: Survives up to 24 hours on metal surfaces at ambient conditions

SECTION V - MEDICAL

SURVEILLANCE: Monitor for symptoms; confirm by serological testing and viral isolation
FIRST AID/TREATMENT: No specific therapy

IMMUNIZATION: None available

PROPHYLAXIS: None available

SECTION VI - LABORATORY HAZARDS
LABORATORY-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS: None reported to date

SOURCES/SPECIMENS: Nasal discharges, respiratory
secretions; stools

PRIMARY HAZARDS: Droplet exposure of the mucous membranes of the eye, nose and/or mouth; inhalation of infectious aerosols; ingestion
SECTION VII - RECOMMENDED PRECAUTIONS

CONTAINMENT REQUIREMENTS: Biosafety level 2 practices, equipment and containment facilities for activities involving virus, infectious body tissues and fluids

[aristeides]

FIRST AID/TREATMENT: No specific therapy IMMUNIZATION: None available PROPHYLAXIS: None available

Uh oh.

[CathyRyan]

What do you think Mother?

[Mother Abigail]

If this is a mutant of the Coronaviridae family, then it is one odd variation.

Transmission and incubation jive but pathogenicity does not.

This would have gone from mild problem to killer in one easy step....

[MarkL]

People seem to forget just how dangerous the flu can be. Don't forget the Flu Pandemic that occurred just after WWI. As I recall, more people died from the flu than from the war!

Mark

[aristeides]

I guess the Spanish flu is an example of a mutation that became much more lethal. But one does have to wonder whether bioengineering was at work here.

Where does China have its bioweapons labs? I note that one of the early cases in Hong Kong had just visited Hainan Island.

[TBall]

"Some of the sickest Hong Kong patients were receiving injections of antibodies obtained from victims who have recovered" Good news, I thought that patients were not recovering from SARS.

[CathyRyan]

I am surprised that there is nothing on ProMED about this. I think I will wait and see what they say before panicking.

[aristeides]

SARS closes Toronto emergency room .

[Mother Abigail]

Good decision

[mother]

So, what's the deal? I'm here in KY wondering if I should be frightened or not ... Is this thing out of control or not? Are there any medical types on today that could enlighten us?

[Mother Abigail]

Very few have been discharged, but perhaps within the hospital some are now getting better, let us hope so...

[ChadsDad]

I always have propholaptics with my corona

[Mother Abigail]

There are a few cases (suspected) within the US now.

No, you should not be alarmed. But it is wise to be alert to these developments.

However you or your family should not travel to Hong Kong, Vietnam, Singapore, or China.

Wash your hands with warm water and soap as often as you can. Avoid international travelers who have recently returned home for a couple of weeks.