[MadIvan]

Vaguely reminds me of "Captain Trips" from Stephen King's "The Stand".

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Bump!

[Bahbah]

Hi, Ivan. There was a thread earlier today about a fellow in the US who caught a strange kind of pneumonia from bacteria in his hot tub. Hmmm.

[Blackyce]

5 out 300 is still pretty bad.

[bulldogs]

The Stand could happen. Are they telling Brits' to get duct tape and plastic yet?

[Route66]

'Vaguely reminds me of "Captain Trips" from Stephen King's "The Stand".'
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Yes-- reminds me of That too.

[The poor little girl in the photo might as well take that mask off if she is not going to wear it over her nose.]

[dogbrain]

Your Lung Gone virus?

[tet68]

I won't stand next to anyone coughing in the check out line.
The Stand really brought it home.

[Centurion2000]

interesting .... and knowing international travel .... how long until it gets to the US ?

[DannyTN]

...only five people had died and not the hundreds suggested... The disease is under control...We did not realise it was a serious epidemic...

Which is it? "Under control" or "serious epidemic"?

It's just a little .. cough ... aaggaggaggejejgeaseigalglalajljasrrrrsrasralraach!!!!

It's a white guy in a white van.

[spectre]

Ping!

sw

[Democratic_Machiavelli]

ping

[Barnacle]

“The disease is under control. It’s not as serious as the rumours said. The priority now is to figure out what caused it,”

Living with pigs may something to do with it. I’m not being derogatory here folks. I heard that most influenza is the result of people living with pigs in China. What a country!

Mystery Lung Virus. – Coming to a country near you.

[canuck_conservative]

"Southern China is a significant source of new strains of influenza and other viruses that are often traced to the poultry industry."

True. Virtually every flu outbreak in the West comes from southern China, because of their sloppy hygiene - pig and poultry farms' feces mixing with the local drinking water. Add in the warm, humid local climate, and you have a perfect bug-breeding ground.

And you can safely assume just about every flight from Hong Kong is basically a direct courier bringing all these diseases to our countries.

[xm177e2]

I wouldn't be surprised if the Chinese gov't was lying, and the rumors were true. But I wouldn't be shocked if the rumors were exaggerated, either.

[valkyrieanne]

From the article: Shoppers cleared stores of antibiotics...

Now we know where all these antibiotic-resistant strains are coming from.

[Billy_bob_bob]

I really wish that the Chinese government would dedicate itself to providing basic sanitation to ALL of the people of China, and not just the coastal regions and the largest cities. If they can afford to build a nuclear deterrant and pay for a manned space program, then by golly they can afford to put flush toilets and sewers or septic tanks in every home in China.

Their current sanitary practices are enough to make a westerner gag just thinking about it, let alone having to experience it. And of course, the human/pig/duck cycle currently enabled by their lack of sanitary practices in the rural regions is what makes those nifty new flus available to the world every year. Ever wonder why they don't have the "Cleveland flu"?

[DAnconia55]

Shoppers cleared stores of antibiotics

China is more free in some way than the US or UK.

We can't buy Antibiotics over the counter.

[SkyRat]

Minor update:

Of the total number affected by the disease 59 have recovered and left hospital.

http://www.brunei-online.com/bb/wed/feb12w30.htm

[deziner]

Has anyone noticed that the little girl in the pic does not have the mask over the nose? Won't do her any good if she breathes through her nose.

[tallhappy]

Bump.

This is the SARS.

Apparently the Washington Post sees it as news that it is from China.