SARS cases pass 6,000; more than 400 dead

upi ^ | 05/02/2003 | Michael Smith

[FITZ]

That's very interesting. I know with most viral infections, you screen with antibody titers which only show previous exposure ---then you follow up with PCR testing to check if the actual virus is there ---but that would only work for chronic infections because with many acute infections by the time your antibody titer is high and/or tested, your body cleared itself of the virus so it wouldn't be there by PCR testing.

[PAR35]

or even to prevent myself from catching it.

The best way to avoid catching it is to stay out of areas that vote for Democrats.

Top states for SARS:
California
New York
Washington

[Joe Hadenuf]

There is little I can do to stop this disease or even to prevent myself from catching it.

Staying off airliners would be a start......

[neither-nor]

thanks for the ping

[FITZ]

What about shopping at Walmarts or Family Dollars where the products are from China and who knows who sneezed and coughed all over them?

[neither-nor]

Great data. Thanks.

[First Amendment]

Already 5600 people who had SARS are now immune to it, and less virulent strains appear to be emerging which will give more people immunity.

Where have you read this? Everything I have read states that they do not know if people develop immunity or can catch SARS again. And I read every SARS article on FR!

[Joe Hadenuf]

That too, good point.

But I will tell you my friend, the last thing I plan to do is jump on an airliner with three hundred other people, all packed together, breathing each others used air. They couldn't pay me enough.

[Future Useless Eater]

The article I read said the total number of cases was at 1611 with deaths at, I think, 170. What am I missing?

Those are the numbers for just Hong Kong

[Mr. Mulliner]

Do you have any trend numbers for India? I was expecting Indian cases to pick up a head of steam in a hurry when I heard the virus was found there.

[_Jim]

And where is compulsively clean Japan?

[Future Useless Eater]

any trend numbers for India? I was expecting Indian cases to pick up a head of steam in a hurry

I have read a number of stories about possible sars in india, and WHO even listed them on 4-30 (with one case - recovered), but then the next day removed india from the list. I cant remember their rationale.

[Judith Anne]

Thanks for your posts. Good information.

[Dog Gone]

The rationale was that none of Indian victims have yet developed the pneumonia, even though they tested positive for the virus.

Apparently, WHO wants to classify SARS by its symptoms, rather than by the presence of the virus.

Which is nuts, by the way.

[Prince Charles]

I agree. The entire outbreak mushroomed outside of hospital settings, i.e. Amoy Gardens, the granny who carried it to Canada, etc.

[Judith Anne]

Yes, I agree.

[TheLion]

Thanks for the post.

[Judith Anne]

You're welcome. I don't have a "ping" list, so I appreciate the trouble you went to to find it. Half the time, I forget the posting names of the people I want to ping...

[TheLion]

I type the names with semi-colons onto notepad....then copy and paste in the "To" block. Save the note pad for whatever ping list I am using. It works for me anyway.

[Judith Anne]

That would be a good idea...thanks for the suggestion.