Killer-flu a 'white terror': Expert, "It is the worst medical disaster I have ever seen."

The Prince of Wales Hospital, where Dr Chung treats SARS patients, has had 69 medical staff struck down by the illness.

"I feel terrible seeing my colleagues struck down one after another," Dr Chung said. He said one doctor's lung function was "totally destroyed", highlighting the stress such cases cause among professionals.

China admitted yesterday that the number of mainland deaths was almost five times the number previously acknowledged and infections were double the number revealed by officials until now.

Guangdong officials point to news reports that said 24 people had died and 680 had been infected in that city by the end of February. SARS is poorly understood and scientists have yet to nail down its cause.

Chairman of the Communicable Disease Network of Australia David Smith said it was not unlike the beginning of the AIDS epidemic.

As with HIV-AIDS, medical and health professionals were struggling to pin down the infectious organism and must work with "very broad" definitions of the symptoms, Associate Professor Smith said.

Once experts identified the pathogen, along with its origin and behaviour, they would be better able to treat SARS and prevent its spread.

But progress is being made. Experts now know masks, gowns and protective clothing limits the disease's spread.

A World Health Organisation team has arrived in Beijing to help scientists with laboratory work and review evidence linking the Guangdong and Hong Kong outbreaks.

Australia's WHO team leader John Mackenzie, of the University of Queensland, said his Chinese colleagues had provided "very good data" on the Guangdong outbreak between November and February, but there was a "long way to go".

In Australia, three people are under investigation, but so far no cases have been confirmed.

Thousands asked to wear masks as health officials extend SARS quarantine

CASSANDRA SZKLARSKICanadian Press

Wednesday, March 26, 2003

Ontario Health Minister Tony Clement, seen here in this file photo. (CP Archive/Frank Gunn)

TORONTO (CP) - Canadians in the thousands have been asked to "quarantine themselves," wearing masks and in some cases staying home over fears a deadly SARS outbreak contained to the Toronto-area would spread even further.

Toronto's Medical Officer of Health said everyone who visited the east-end Scarborough Grace Hospital since March 16 should remain in their homes for 10 days since that visit. Their family members may go to work or school, but must wear a mask when at home and in contact with those who are at risk of infection.

"We realize this is a substantial amount of people, we're talking about over a thousand we expect, this number will be in the thousands," said Dr. Sheela Basrur.

"This is an incident of unprecedented scope and magnitude."

The comments came as protective face masks flew off supply store shelves Wednesday as anxious Torontonians sought to shield themselves against a deadly SARS outbreak that prompted Ontario to declare a "health emergency."

Ontario's Public Security Commissioner said police were providing protection for a helicopter about to land at Scarborough Grace Hospital carrying an infectious disease expert. The hospital has no landing pad, forcing the helicopter to land on the grounds of the hospital.

"The police presence is simply to allow that to happen and ensure public safety by cordoning off the area," said Dr. James Young.
News of the extended quarantine came hours after Health Minister Tony Clement announced he had declared a "health emergency" in Ontario. By using the province's emergency powers legislation, Clement was able to activate an action group to try to stop the spread of SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome.

Dozens of households have already been quarantined and Scarborough's emergency room was closed earlier this week. A second Toronto hospital, Mount Sinai, stopped accepting new emergency patients on Wednesday. A Toronto elementary school has been closed since Monday.

"We're taking this very seriously," Clement said.
"By characterizing it as a health emergency, we are giving ourselves the powers that we need and the information that we need at the most appropriate time to ensure that we can contain this disease as soon as possible."

A command centre will be set up and staffed 24 hours a day to co-ordinate all information from hospitals and health workers.

The Associated Press

Wednesday, March 26, 2003; 2:20 PM

The Rolling Stones were going ahead with a concert in Singapore Wednesday despite an outbreak of deadly flu in the city state that has claimed one life and pushed more than 700 people into quarantine.

"It's not canceled," said Ben Munroe, head of Cazbaa, the promoter of the Stones' Licks World Tour in Singapore.

"Everyone knew there was flu before they arrived and despite that the Stones still came."

Earlier Wednesday, Singapore's Health Ministry reported the first death here as a result of the mystery illness known as severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS.

The outbreak has sickened another 68 people in Singapore and officials have ordered more than 700 people quarantined.

According to the band's Web site, the Stones also will perform Friday and Saturday in Hong Kong, where many have been wearing surgical masks in public hoping to avoid the disease.

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"I did it! I did it! I spread the little diseases."