Posted on 04/17/2003 1:56:58 AM PDT by oceanperch
Coast Guard searching for SARS
The Coast Guard is working to keep the deadly SARS virus from infecting people in our area.
Inspectors are checking for cases of SARS on every ship that enters our ports. Coast Guard members inspect a ship only if everyone is well.
If the captain findss someone is sick and their symptoms mirror those of SARS then the Health Department and the CDC are called in.
"The incubation period, of course, will pretty much be covered by the transit across the ocean so hopefully at that point, if people have symptoms, they'll know it ahead of time," said Commander Dan Pippenger.
One-third to one-half of the ships entering ports in the Columbia basin is from Asian countries where SARS has been a problem. So far, no suspected cases have come in to the ports here.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.