China Quarantines Banknotes In SARS Scare

IOL ^ | 4-29-2003

[blam]

China quarantines banknotes in SARS scare

April 29 2003 at 11:39AM

Beijing - China's banks have quarantined all banknotes for 24 hours and are encouraging the use of bank cards in an attempt to halt the spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), state media said on Tuesday.

The procedure was introduced despite medical experts saying there was "no clear evidence" that SARS could be spread via banknotes, the China Daily newspaper reported.

"When suspicious banknotes come back in, we first sterilise them with disinfectant, and expose them under ultraviolet light for four hours," an Industrial and Commercial Bank of China spokesperson told the newspaper.

The bank is also disinfecting its more than 700 ATMs in Beijing daily, the spokesperson said.

The central bank has urged Beijing residents to use bank cards more often to reduce the risk of spreading SARS during cash exchanges, he said.

Extra banknotes are being printed to ensure an adequate supply of "clean" money, state media said earlier.

Beijing has reported 66 deaths from SARS, with 1 347 probable and more than 1 300 suspected infections. - Sapa-DPA

[blam]

This is probably intended to stop a run on the banks.

[dirtboy]

This is probably intended to stop a run on the banks.

Actually, cash is a prime means of spreading contact viruses. But this ban will have the unintended side effect of driving the conspiracy nutbars crazy. "CASH BANNED IN CHINA! SARS CREATED AND RELEASED BY FEDERAL RESERVE TO ELIMINATE CASH AROUND THE WORLD!"

[aristeides]

FYI.

[Uncle George]

They read FR and found out SARS has a 24 hour shelf life. The money infecting angle was discussed right here days ago.

[widowithfoursons]

I have yet to hear a reasoned discussion on SARS. It appears to be classic knee jerk reaction to a (percentage wise) small problem. Look at the stats on influenza during WWI. Why has the media turned this into another AIDS epedemic? (Another low stat disease).

[palmer]

Actually, cash is a prime means of spreading contact viruses

ATM touch screens are just as good if not better.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

There seems to be more to this than the usual Asian flu.

[Dog Gone]

What does a "suspicious banknote" look like?

[widowithfoursons]

According to the WP, SARS has killed 333 people, mostly in Asian countries. And this isn't a blip??????????

[EggsAckley]

Like this?

[Dog Gone]

Yep, you can clearly see that Saddam has a runny nose.

[per loin]

When a small fire starts burning in one of the kids bedrooms, do you attmpt to put it out, or just note that it is tiny compared to the fire at the WTC?

[TBall]

Would you be more concerned if it were small pox that had killed killed 333 people?

[widowithfoursons]

All I am saying is that it appears that SARS is due to some hygeine fowl issue in rural Asia. Slow news day since Iraq has brought it to the forefront. As far as smallpox, are you saying that this is a terrorist attack? Since smallpox has been irradicated?

[TBall]

"are you saying that this is a terrorist attack?" Nah, lets leave terrorism out of it. Would you be more concerned if the 300 deaths in Asia were due to Smallpox?

[widowithfoursons]

But smallpox DOESN"T EXIST.

[TBall]

Suppose that smallpox naturally reemerged. Would you be more concerned with 300 deaths of smallpox in Asia that with SARS? After all, its only 300 people in a world full of billions.

[widowithfoursons]

Suppose that TB naturally reemerged. Suppose that bubonic plague naturally reemerged. Suppose that the black plague naturally reemerged. Suppose the sky is falling. What's your point?

[myprecious]

As a public service, I will take serious risk of infection and disinfect all your cash. Please send all your cash to me and rest assured that you have taken appropriate measures to prevent the spread of SARS. The bill most at risk are $100's and $20's. Seal them in envelop and mail immediately to ensure protection.

[TBall]

What is the difference between the bubonic plague and black plague? Apparently one of these plagues exists naturally in many US states and even infects people from time to time. My point was that just because only 300 people have died in far off regions is no reason to say SARS SMARS.