Ninth person dies of mystery disease as WHO warns world heath threat spread by air travel

The Star (Malaysia) / AP ^ | 3/16/2003 | Margie Wilson

[Mamzelle]

9th confirmed case...

How do they *confirm* such a thing, if they don't even know if it's a bacteria or virus causing it? It's only a clinical assumption, at best.

[Petronski]

Yes, Blue Oyster Cult, used to tremendous effect in the opening scene of 'The Stand.'

[metesky]

None of my sandwich fillers wear panties.

[CathyRyan]

It might be a simple case for them just washing their hands and using universal precaustions. To keep from "sacrificially expose themselves".

[CathyRyan]

precaustions = precautions

[oceanperch]

Had it on vinyl in '78. The greatest summer of my youth.

[sytole]

A little more info on this from the Vancouver Sun. Note the part about the person that recovered. It says that she had symptoms but did not have the infection. No, I don't know what that means. Anyway, it seems that this person did not get sick after all. Maybe she was just paranoid, I know I would be.


Two people are dead in Toronto and a Lower Mainland man is in critical condition -- all hit with a mysterious, lethal pneumonia rapidly sweeping the globe.


http://www.canada.com/vancouver/story.asp?id={2E481BC5-255F-459C-B85F-855C68109409}

The virus does not respond to treatment. Nine people have died and 400 others are ill. So far, no victims have recovered.

For the first time in a decade, the World Health Organization has issued an emergency travel advisory urging people to get medical help if they've travelled to infected areas and return with any symptoms -- including coughing, high fever or shortness of breath. Health Canada issued a similar advisory late yesterday.

[Mamzelle]

So far, two docs and one nurse have died, undoubtedly from exposure from patients. Looks like it's airbourne...don your masks.

And, yeah, it *is* sacrificial, which would become very clear the moment the health personnel decided to stay home and stay safe. Not that they're holding their breath for any sign of appreciation.

[pitinkie]

True..my hubby is an EM Doc and I worked a lot with AIDS in Newark when it first started...in early 80's. I knew we didnt know all the dangers but it was so sad to see the Aids patients have no one go in the rooms. I did what I had to do to take care of them. It was my job as a nurse. Mu hubby feels the same way. Just give us a little info please!

[oceanperch]

You have mail.

[Mamzelle]

Nothing to pin down, specimens being sent to Hotlanter...suspect it has to be a virus. A bad, airbourne one.

[revolted]

Was the traveling doctor to NYC a real doctor, what nationality is he and his companions, why is he at a conference for only a couple of hours, what was the topic of the conference ?????
Alot of questions here need to be answered quickly.

[riri]

bookmarking for later, yikes.

Hoof and Mouth

Anthrax Letters

Norfolk via cruise ships

West Nile Virus

and now an untreatable, unknown, easily spread (how easily?) respiratory infection.

hmmmmmm.

[Judith Anne]

It was some kind of medical conference, think I read that somewhere, that brought the doctor to NY. He didn't have symptoms till after he arrived.

[CathyRyan]

I do not see it as being airbourne. If it were would not the people on the plane (with the man returning from China) be falling sick? They were breathing the same cabin air with this man for some time.

[Bogey78O]

Bingo. Trichinosis(sp?) isn't a problem nowadays but back before refrigeration....

[Domestic Church]

I've heard the x-rays are mixed. Some show no indication of pneumonia but that fits atypical pneumonia.

[Domestic Church]

I read it was a pharmaceutical conference (at the same hospital in NYC that the Sunday morning Dr.on Foxnews is affiliated with) and he was a surgeon who evidently had some connection to the infectious disease patient(American business man who travels to southern CHina from Hanoi) in Hanoi or HongKong.

Many unanswered questions.

[Judith Anne]

I think he treated the now-deceased American. BTW, I read that this surgeon is only 32 yo.

[happygrl]

Thanks for the info.

From a radio fan.