Posted on 03/29/2003 1:10:40 AM PST by sarcasm
HONG KONG -- Despite major quarantines and school closings meant to contain a deadly flulike disease, more cases cropped up Friday as health officials in Hong Kong and Singapore warned of the worst health crisis in years.
"We are facing an unprecedented situation," said Singapore Health Minister Lim Hng Kiang. "Singaporeans must understand that this is for the long haul -- this is not going to turn around anytime soon."
Singapore doubled the number of people under quarantine, adding those who came into contact with hospital workers treating patients of the disease. There now are 1,500 people confined to their homes for about two weeks. The quarantine in Hong Kong totaled 1,000. Schools were closed in both places.
But Hong Kong's health secretary predicted still more would become infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome, SARS.
As 58 more people in Hong Kong became sick with symptoms of the disease Friday, Dr. Yeoh Eng-kiong said the epidemic is a tougher challenge than the 1997 chicken flu outbreak that killed six people.
"The bird flu was simpler," Yeoh said. "All you had to do was kill the chickens. Now you're dealing with humans."
SARS is blamed for 11 deaths here -- the hardest-hit area outside of mainland China, where the disease apparently started months ago. More than 400 Hong Kong residents are sick. In Singapore, two have died and 86 believed infected.
Globally, more than 1,400 are sick and more than 50 have died from SARS, which scientists believe is a new form of a virus that causes the common cold. Deaths also have occurred in mainland China, Vietnam and Canada. In the United States, there are 59 suspected cases and no deaths.
The disease -- with symptoms that include a fever over 104 degrees, coughing and difficulty breathing -- has spread mostly among health care workers. But in eastern Asia it has affected tourism and daily life, with many people wearing surgical masks or avoiding air travel.
And more evidence surfaced that SARS can be caught on airplanes. Singapore Airlines said an attendant was sickened after traveling on a flight with an SARS-stricken doctor from New York to Frankfurt.
Earlier this week, Hong Kong authorities said several tourists on a China Air flight caught it after flying with another SARS-infected passenger.
The World Health Organization is urging airlines to screen possible SARS carriers at check-in by questioning them and by refusing to board those who might have the illness.
The Geneva-based health agency also said it soon should have a test doctors can use to positively diagnose the disease, which resembles pneumonia or the flu.
That should help isolate patients faster. There is no cure for the disease, but various medicines are being tested.
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