Killer Virus (SARS) Identified

ProMed ^ | 03-18-03

[Mother Abigail]

Killer virus identified

A team from the Prince of Wales Hospital and Chinese University of Hong Kong have identified the virus that has caused the recent outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome worldwide, confirming that the current anti-viral treatment applied to patients has been the right choice. Identifying the virus as a member of the Paramyxoviridae family, Professor John Tam of the department of microbiology of the Chinese University said it was detected by electron microscopy. The finding, announced late last night, was further confirmed by a molecular technique that revealed the nucleic acid sequence of the virus.

Asked if the virus was curable, Tam reiterated that the finding last night had indicated that the current treatment applied to patients suffering from the syndrome, more commonly known as atypical pneumonia, had been the right choice. But he added that they still needed to monitor individual patients' reactions before they could conclude that the virus was curable.

Lo Wing-lok, Medical Association president and legislator, said the Paramyxoviridae family incorporated different viruses that could affect humans and, as such, further studies were needed to establish whether it was a new virus. Earlier it was revealed that at least 6 patients were responsible for spreading the pneumonia in Hong Kong. Health chief Yeoh Eng-kiong also said that a mainland professor who died in [Hong Kong] SAR on 4 Mar 2003 was a victim of the atypical pneumonia.

The new information from officials indicated the disease had been more widespread in the SAR than originally believed. Yeoh said the pneumonia and suspected cases had now been isolated into 6 "clusters". Yeoh again stressed the government was not hiding anything. He insisted there was no sign of an outbreak at the community level.

[This is the second identification of a paramyovirus-like organism from a patient with SARS (see ProMED-mail posting Severe acute respiratory syndrome - worldwide (06) 20030318.0677). The first identification was made by investigators in Frankfurt am Main and Hamburg from specimens taken from a physician from Singapore who had treated some of the earlier cases seen in Singapore and was admitted to hospital in Frankfurt, Germany en route back to Singapore over the weekend. As mentioned in our earlier posting, it is important to confirm these findings and to identify a similar agent from other cases of SARS before it can be concluded that this agent is the cause of SARS.

That being said, this second identification of a paramxovirus-like organism from patients with SARS offers hope that the etiology of this outbreak may be identified soon. - Mod.MPP]

[Mother Abigail]

But he added that they still needed to monitor individual patients' reactions before they could conclude that the virus was curable.

[Mother Abigail]

The new information from officials indicated the disease had been more widespread in the SAR than originally believed. Yeoh said the pneumonia and suspected cases had now been isolated into 6 "clusters".

Yeoh again stressed the government was not hiding anything.

He insisted there was no sign of an outbreak at the community level.

[CathyRyan]

BUMP

[aristeides]

Yeoh again stressed the government was not hiding anything. He insisted there was no sign of an outbreak at the community level.

Anybody else reminded of Death in Venice?

[Mother Abigail]

There are reports that this is not the case.

All the travelers that come back from Asia infected - how??

There must be a large reservoir of virus in the general population in order to facilitate so many transmissions.

Seems to me...

[Mother Abigail]

Mystery flu leaves 21 in isolation

March 19, 2003

UP to 21 people have now been isolated by Australian health authorities for treatment of symptoms similar to those of the mystery pneumonia now spreading from Asia

[texasbluebell]

bookmark

[aristeides]

That's fast. When was the first case noted in Australia? It was one or two days ago, wasn't it?

[Shermy]

There must be a large reservoir of virus in the general population in order to facilitate so many transmissions.

One would think so, no? Or perhaps there is a specific environment the virus thrives in - say air plane airconditioners? In a way similar to Legionaire's?

Just a guess, based on so many stories involving recent air flights.

[aristeides]

But I don't think there's been one confirmed case yet of transmission from one person to another on an aircraft.

[Dog Gone]

I'm going to go way out on a limb here and suggest that most Freepers aren't going to find this story by searching with the keyword Paramyxoviridae.

[GirlShortstop]

Identifying the virus as a member of the Paramyxoviridae family, Professor John Tam of the department of microbiology of the Chinese University said it was detected by electron microscopy.

A non-scientific question:   Did they ever indicate from where this bug comes?   It's in the "Para...family", does that equate to naturally occurring, self-mutated?

[Mother Abigail]

Hell I can't even spell it...

Thank you

[Judith Anne]

Not indicated, as of today.

[realpatriot71]

I'm going to go way out on a limb here and suggest that most Freepers aren't going to find this story by searching with the keyword Paramyxoviridae.

LOL

[Mother Abigail]

You may view the entire history of this outbreak by starting

here

[realpatriot71]

A non-scientific question: Did they ever indicate from where this bug comes? It's in the "Para...family", does that equate to naturally occurring, self-mutated?

It's a fancy way of saying "flu" - it's naturally occuring

[blam]

Thanks for the info.

"But he added that they still needed to monitor individual patients' reactions before they could conclude that the virus was curable."

Looks like it may hit some harder than others, huh?

[Mother Abigail]

It seems that the geographical nexus is more telling (in terms of infections) than the act of flying..