SARS infects 'protected' medical staff Gloves, gowns, masks didn't stop outbreak at Sunnybrook

CanWest News Service - The Ottawa Citizen - canada.com ^ | April 20, 2003 | David Rider

[blam]

Being a retired chip-maker and around 'clean rooms' most of my life, I have already wondered if placing these people in a clean room environment could be a partial solution.

Clean Rooms

I used to have an engineer who stayed in the clean-room as much as possible at certain times of the year...he had severe allergies (hay fever).

[mewzilla]

FYI on the mask issue. Click here for a story on how the n-95s are flying off the shelves.

[blam]

"But even so, that's an extremely contagious virus..."

When we find out that it can survive in the wild animal population, it's all over. (I wonder why we haven't heard about any animals being affected?)

[Judith Anne]

Yes, nebulized meds are given via a "pipe" apparatus or sometime via a mask with holes in it. Many respiratory meds given this way are designed to help liquefy secretions and stimulate coughing. Respiration is out into the general air of the room...even a reverse airflow isolation room is going to have some aerosolized droplets in it.

I didn't even think of this until you mentioned it...so far it's all theoretical to me, but dammit, it won't be this fall, imho.

[friendly]

(I wonder why we haven't heard about any animals being affected?)

It was successfully given to primates in tests.

Also, South China is a notorious hot house for all manner of viral infections due to the area's primitive intensive agriculture, placing humans, chickens, and pigs in close (and extremely filthy) proximity. Viruses spread back and forth inter-species, constantly mutating and with escalating virulence.

Because of this chronic public health hazard, South China is the source for most of the world's new strains of flu, colds, and other diseases.

The only exception is AIDS, which originated in Africans bush-meat eating of monkey brains, spread by gay flight attendents to the West and local "sex workers" to kill 1/5 of the Sub-Sahara heterosexual population.

[Prince Charles]

I doubt it's an engineered virus, but it certainly is a nasty one.

The slums of China are perfect natural habitats for trans-species bugs; that, combined with ChiCom incompetence has let this epidemic mushroom.

[blam]

"Because of this chronic public health hazard, South China is the source for most of the world's new strains of flu, colds, and other diseases."

I posted this bit of information on another thread last night.

"From Today's News: Independent (UK)"

"* A Dutch vet became the first human victim linked to the "bird flu" epidemic sweeping through Holland's poultry industry. The vet died of pneumonia after being infected by the virus which, although rarely transmitted to humans, killed six people in Hong Kong after emerging in 1997.""

I thought this virus had been contained after China killed millions of chickens.

[Gritty]

What PAL is really doing is fronting for trial attorneys awash in tobacco cash, and who are now seeking to bankrupt biotech and drug companies by suing for early termination of valid patents on a retainer basis

I suppose the bright side of all this (if there is a bright side) is these very same people trying to make a huge, fast buck have the identical potential of catching this and dying as the rest of us.

When (if) they start dying like flies, expect a sea-change in attitude. They'll be the ones screaming the loudest for an instant cure, no matter what the consequences.

One can only hope their deathbed conversions don't come too late for the rest of us.

[friendly]

The poultry farmers in the Delmarva peninsula of the US east coast are terrified of Bird Flu. Justifiably so, as it could wipe out an entire industry.

[friendly]

One can only hope their deathbed conversions don't come too late for the rest of us.

Because they are sociopaths, lawyers don't make deathbed conversions.

[Justa]

HEPA air cleaners would help too I think.

[CathyRyan]

Pets dumped amid SARS uncertainty in Hong Kong

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s836135.htm

[blam]

""But we have told them that their is no evidence to suggest pets are involved in the transmission of SARS and we have urged them to keep their pets."

Thanks. So far, so good.

[CathyRyan]

And now an article about Super-Spreaders.....

Are "Superspreaders" Ground Zero of SARS epidemic?

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N19261755.htm

[forewarning]

...you could still culture viable virus from surfaces after as much as 24 hours...

At least this is longer than the normal shipping time for imports.

[Domestic Church]

They went to Jupitor suits on March 31st in Singapore. Unfortunately on the 29th several staff were infected.

This virus must be easily airborne. Probably a very small virus too. Perhaps as they were removing the gowns, gloves and masks, it became airborne again from the surfaces of the protective gear. Also any exposed facial skin/hair not covered by the eye shields and mask might be problematic too. It sounds like a disinfectant decontamination shower is needed after any patient care.

[forewarning]

maybe there is some good news in that the graphs (while linear and upward) are at least not showing logarithmic increases.

On the other hand, this is steady growth despite increasing awareness and precautions.

[Domestic Church]

I asked one of the medical Docs on FR if they were good for coronavirus and he said their trial runs were so bad, a complete joke, that they dropped the idea of selling them as prescriptive pharmaceuticals...so the over the counter approach is reflective of P.T. Barnum's perspective.

Some say it does work... who knows if you or I are in the small percentage of the trial run that had a positive result.

[Domestic Church]

"Officials said USAMRIID scientists "

Mmmm. This virus is going to change our lifestyles shortly. Supermarkets and other necessary shopping chains might want to change their business approach...drive through supermarkets...call ahead with your courtesy card info & pick up the groceries prepacked outside...or have delivery service.

[aristeides]

Interesting explanations of the super-spreaders in this article: City Of Fear, Hope: Hong Kong keeps a brave face as SARS crisis grows.