SARS disaster feared in rural China

ABC Radio Australia News ^ | April 22, 2003

[CathyRyan]

China did not talk much about sars until the whole thing blew up in their face in HK. Maybe he was talking about the lady had the disease before china talked about it. IIRC they thought she might have the bird flu and so they took extra precautions when treating her. Someone had been on the net and read about the bird flu IIRC. It was just one of those lucky things that happens. I do not think at the time anyone (outside of China) knew about it (what is now sars). The doctors in Va. talked with doctors in China about treatment etc. they had one of the lady's relatives translate.

[Betty Jo]

I think the time is 8:30 EST.I'll go look it up.

[Betty Jo]

The good Dr said things like they wern't sure how long Sars could live on surfaces..that CDC did not endorse the treatment of steroids and that drug , I cant remember its name that some are using,that within a week they would have these yellow notice cards to give out at airports,,CDC warning against travelers to China and Hong Kong,stuff like that.

I'll see if I can get a link to a transscript of the news conference.

C-SPAn has been showing them,maybe I can find that link.

[blam]

" The current 5.6 percent death rate for SARS is much higher than that for the 1918-1919 influenza pandemic, which was less than 1 percent, said Stoehr. But the influenza pandemic killed from 20 million to 40 million people in the world because it spread so quickly."

I thought the 1918 epidemic was in the 4.0% range.

[Betty Jo]

Dr. Fauci coming on CNN right now.

[blam]

"Wait until they report it can be transmitted by mosquitos and fleas. The fun will begin then!"

Lordy, lordy. My sister is already on pins-n-needles over the coming WNV season and she is in Indianapolis.

[aristeides]

Dr. Fauci was on Nightline last night. Let us know what he says, please.

[blam]

"Still wondering: why is Canada the only place outside of ESE Asia where people are dying of this disease?"

Does anyone know if it is only or mainly Chinese people infected in Canada?

[Betty Jo]

The CNN SARS Special hosted by Paula is at 8:30 EST.

[aristeides]

I was mistaken. The Loudoun County case was earlier than I thought. According to this article in last Sunday's Washington Post, the victim fell ill on Feb. 5, after returning to this country from Guangzhou.

[Betty Jo]

Fauci said things like "No one should panic"..."We cant predict the outcome"..SARS is evolving"..."Follow the advisories"

Wasnt he part of the problem in the unchecked ADIS early epidemic?

I again say that whenever our government has a choice to make re our safety and our economy, it goes for $$$$$$ each time,not coming to terms with the idea that if everyone is DEAD, there will be NO economy!

[EternalHope]

From an article in the online version of the London Times:

World Health Organisation officials believe privately that China is still hugely under-reporting cases. Despite promises of full co-operation, they fear that many more cases in rural areas are still not being reported.

The rest of the article was unremarkable, but here's the link for those purists who want links to everything quoted:

Beijing still reluctant to divulge Sars toll

[duk]

...Lordy, lordy. My sister is already on pins-n-needles over the coming WNV season and she is in Indianapolis...

I wrote this before about WNV here in MI. The stats for MI worked out to be 8.2% mortality!!

[Betty Jo]

C-SPAN has "Real Video" of the 4/17 CDC news conference. I suspect that they will have todays also,eventually.I couldnt find where it listed when it will re-air todays conference. Another of the scary things on todays was that the drug, that I couldnt think of before, "RIBOVIRAN" does not work.

[Betty Jo]

CDC said today that RIBOVIRAN does not work.

[Betty Jo]

Ribavirin made by ICN Pharmaceuticals does not work, but saying it did made its stock value jump.

Birch Bayh is on the Board of Directors.

Archy, I know you "like" the Bayh family.

[wingnuts'nbolts]

Calm down Betty Jo, the world has survived epidemics for a very long time. Hand washing is the single most important thing you can do. Cleaning surfaces with alcohol. Use paper towels not cloth. Don't go to the far east. It is not the end of the world .

[Betty Jo]

You are funny!

[Betty Jo]

http://www.forbes.com/2003/04/11/cx_mh_0411sars.html

[archy]

Archy, I know you "like" the Bayh family.

I keep hearing from those familiar with the machinations of the Kennedy wing of the Democratic Party that Evan Bay may well be their next *dark horse* candidate for the presidency, in a bid by the Democratic eastern establishment to wrest control of their party back from the Cllinton/Gore *Dixie Wing* and probable followup by Hillary. Accordingly, I certainly think Evan Bayh is worth particular scrutiny, and his father Birch's involvement in everything from the Indiana Monon enviornmental disaster payoff to the murder of one of his mistresses suggests that he to deserves similar scrutiny.