[Judith Anne]

Just a recap from a post on the "SARS threads and information" thread:

As summer approaches and the SARS epidemic declines, there will be an understandable urge to celebrate. But history teaches us that the devastating 1918 influenza epidemic began with a modest "herald wave" in spring that faded away during the summer, only to explode and wreak global devastation the following fall and winter. It is possible that SARS, now seeded around the globe, could follow a similar pattern and fade away this summer, only to erupt again next winter.

The coming summer lull in SARS affords an extraordinary opportunity. If we can detect, diagnose and effectively isolate every contagious case during the period when the infection rate is at its lowest, it is possible that we can truly eradicate SARS, not just for the short term, but permanently.

This is from Dr. Burke at Johns Hopkins, the article is at the Wall Street Journal, a subscribers only page unfortunately. The link is in post 10, by Blue_Ridge_Mtn_Geek.

The SARS cases we are seeing this spring are called the "herald wave." You may know this already, I just couldn't recall the terminology. If I write it down, I'm more likely to remember it...

[EternalHope]

I very much hope we get the summer lull, and can use it to successfully track down ALL cases.

The weak link is China. I have very little confidence they can do this, no matter how hard they try.

[FreepForever]

There’s always a chance that the health care system will be overwhelmed in a epidemic like SARS. Here is a summary of measures being taken in infected areas.

1) Move all other general patients to other hospitals to prevent further infection.
2) Cancel all non-emergency operations (including cancer) because operation rooms are changed into make-shift ICU beds to make up for the inadequacy.
3) All hospital workers (from doctors to helpers) who treat SARS patients are quarantined too. They are not allowed to go home and must stay in make-shift quarters.
4) Borrow respirators from other hospitals that have less respiratory sickness (non-SARS) patients.
5) Maximum protection gear for all personnel entering SARS wards (masks, goggles, protective clothing, gloves, shoes covers, etc.). Despite all these measures, 30% of new cases are still medical workers due to the long hours. This is quite discouraging.
6) Strictly no visiting of SARS patients. They cannot see their family members before they die. They allow them to use web-cam though. No last rite allowed. Sealed coffin, no make-up allowed. No last goodbye in funeral.
7) Medical care workers that are in contact with SARS patients are encouraged to write their wills. Insurance companies have announced that SARS is not covered.

SARS is an epidemic that we know very little about. The administration has to fight it with maximum flexibility in allocation of available resources.