Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) multi-country outbreak - Update 10

World Health Organization ^ | 2003-03-26

[Lessismore]

Progress towards identification of the virus

Research attention is increasingly focusing on the Coronavirus family, though viruses from the Paramyxovirus and other families are also being considered as scientists cast the widest possible net in their search for the cause of SARS. Many are of the opinion that a diagnostic test could rapidly follow conclusive identification of the pathogen. Experts in the network are also considering the theory that SARS is caused by co-infection with two new viruses that somehow need each other in order to cause severe disease in humans. Evidence is strongly pointing to a new virus, or possibly two new viruses, that have not previously been known to infect humans or cause severe disease.

Hypotheses include a virus known to cause disease in an animal host that has jumped the species barrier to infect humans, or a known human virus that has mutated to acquire properties that are causing much more severe disease in humans. It is increasingly certain, however, that SARS is a serious new disease caused by a newly recognized pathogen.

[Lessismore]

For all of today's bulletin, see the linked page.

[mercy]

My computer bible broke. Somebody post the verses about a third of mankind dying from disease.

[AAABEST]

Experts in the network are also considering the theory that SARS is caused by co-infection with two new viruses that somehow need each other in order to cause severe disease in humans.

This theory just doesn't sound right for some reason.

[AAABEST]

My computer bible broke.

Here's an online bible in 16 different versions and and 28 different languages.

You're welcome. ;)

[Mother Abigail]

We should know soon, the pace is building.

[Black Agnes]

Project Gutenberg has a few versions LOL...

Click here then put in Bible in the title search thingie

[Lady GOP]

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Location: WHO > WHO Sites > CSR Home > Cumulative Number of Reported Cases (SARS)

.printable version

Cumulative Number of Reported Cases (SARS)

From: 1 Feb 2003 To: 26 Mar 2003, 13:00 GMT+1

Country	Cumulative number of case(s)	Number of deaths	Local transmission*
Canada	19	3	Yes
China, Guangdong Province+	792	31	Yes
China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region	316	10**	Yes
China, Taiwan	6	0	Yes
France	1	0	None
Germany	4	0	None
Italy	3	0	None
Republic of Ireland	2	0	None
Singapore	74	1	Yes
Switzerland	2	0	To be determined
Thailand	3	0	None
United Kingdom	3	0	None
United States	40 §	0	To be determined
Viet Nam	58	4	Yes
Total	1323	49

Notes:
Cumulative number of cases includes number of deaths.

As SARS is a diagnosis of exclusion, the status of a reported case may change over time. This means that previously reported cases may be discarded after further investigation and follow-up.

*National public health authorities report to WHO on the areas in which local chain(s) of transmission is/are occurring. These areas are provided on the list of Affected Areas.

+This is an updated report of cases from 16 November 2002 to 28 February 2003 in Guangdong Province. The number of cases was compiled from investigations as well as hospital reports and may include suspect as well as probable cases of SARS.

§Due to differences in the case definitions being used at a national level, probable cases are reported by all countries except the United States of America, which is reporting suspect cases under investigation.

**One death attributed to Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China occurred in a case medically transferred from Viet Nam.

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[Lady GOP]

Experts in the network are also considering the theory that SARS is caused by co-infection with two new viruses that somehow need each other in order to cause severe disease in humans.

This theory just doesn't sound right for some reason.

Second that

[Lady GOP]

FYI From: 1 Feb 2003 To: 20 Mar 2003, there were 306 cases worldwide. Was just looking back in the WHO data.

[PoisedWoman]

"Hypotheses include a virus known to cause disease in an animal host that has jumped the species barrier to infect humans" is not impossible, according to our friends at BBC.

Wednesday, January 27, 1999 Published at 19:14 GMT

Fears that genetically-modified foods might promote drug-resistant "superbugs" have been fuelled by new research.

Dutch scientists used a computer-controlled artificial gut to show that DNA remains intact for several minutes in the large intestine.

Hub Noteborn, of the State Institute for Quality Control ofAgricultural Products in Wageningen, said in New Scientist magazine: "It was a surprise to see that DNA
persisted so long in the colon."

This persistence means it might be possible for genes to jump from genetically-modified (GM) food into bacteria in the gut of farm animals. Previously some scientists have said there was no risk as DNA breaks down too quickly.

It might be possible for genes to jump from genetically-modified (GM)food into bacteria in the gut of farm animals If the transferred genes were the antibiotic-resistance genes used as markers in some GM crops fed to livestock, then serious health risks might result.

The danger would be that antibiotic-resistant microbes would spread from animals to humans.

FOR THE rest of the article, go to:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_264000/264119.stm

If the Chinese are experimenting with antibiotic resistant GM grains fed to farm animals, humans could develop resistance to antibiotics, which is characteristic of SARS.

[Cold Heat]

Hypotheses include a virus known to cause disease in an animal host that has jumped the species barrier to infect humans,

Too much barnyard fun in China and thereabouts.

[firewalk]

bttt

[Lessismore]

This might be more possible with bacteria, which have DNA genetic material, than it would be with viruses, which have RNA genetic material. But there are new viruses that appear in species from time to time. An earlier poster had mentioned losing ferrets to a coronavirus. This seems to be a new virus (circa '68?), and it causes a very high mortality rate in ferrets.

[Elsie]

Is THIS it??



Revelation 8

1. When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
2. And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets.
3. Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne.
4. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God from the angel's hand.
5. Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake.
6. Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to sound them.
7. The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down upon the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.
8. The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood,
9. a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
10. The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water--
11. the name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter.
12. The fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them turned dark. A third of the day was without light, and also a third of the night.
13. As I watched, I heard an eagle that was flying in midair call out in a loud voice: "Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels!"

[StockAyatollah]

Seems like ever since the book The Hot Zone came out, every few months the media goes crazy about a new communicable disease that will be the New Plague. We've heard about Ebola, Hanta Virus, new deady flu strains, West Nile Virus, the "Mysterious Cruise Ship Sickness" and now this damned pneumonia.

Having been suckered in many times before, I can now say I am positively sick of it all.

[lambo]

How's your breathing?

[snickeroon]

This entire outbreak REEKS of a terrorist test, DESPITE the somewhat vehement denials from both the CDC and the WHO.

Why? Because last week there were several stories on mainstream news sites with a buried paragraph about health officials tracing the first cases. Much to my surprise, they managed to find they originated at a hotel in China....even more surprising, ALL were relegated to people staying on the SEVENTH floor.

Now if they can narrow the start of this so specifically, it would appear that even THEY would be a bit suspicious that someone (or some group), wanted to track the spread of initial exposure...but they STILL insist there is no threat.

[Smokin' Joe]

Symbiotic binary bioweapon?

Who knows what evil lurks, but this would be a diabolically clever WMD.

[snickeroon]

Thought I better back-up the story with the first proof I could find....so here's what the Wash. Post had to say:

"Hong Kong Suggested As Origin of Outbreak

By Rob Stein
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, March 20, 2003; Page A06


New diseases have emerged periodically throughout human history, but the one the world is struggling to contain and explain today has aroused intense concern largely because it is the first often life-threatening illness to surface in nearly two decades that spreads directly from one person to another....

Raising fears that the disease may spread more easily than has been thought, health officials in Hong Kong reported yesterday that the outbreak there may have begun when one guest in a hotel infected six other people on his floor.

The guest in question is a doctor who had been treating patients on mainland China's Guangdong province, where hundreds of people have been stricken by a similar disease since November. Between Feb. 12 and March 2, six people contracted the disease after staying on or visiting the doctor's floor, including three from Singapore, two Canadians and a Hong Kong resident. The local resident apparently spread the disease to the Hong Kong hospital hit hardest by the outbreak. The doctor died."


And YES, they may be ASSUMING that the Dr. (since he was treating patients with similar symptoms, was the initial carrier. HOWEVER, if there was some sort of test, this coincidence may be making for the perfect coverup. True, it would be the obvious conclusion, but what if all were exposed at the same time, by the same system? Isn't this also a possibility?