SARS REACHES HONG KONG SCHOOLS - 32 NEW CASES (IS THE BUG OUT OF THE BOX?)

CHANNEL NEWS ASIA ^ | 03-21-03 | AMY OR

[Mother Abigail]

21 March 2003 2046 hrs (SST) 1246 hrs (GMT)

32 more victims infected with SARS in Hong Kong 

By Amy Or

The Hong Kong government says it has contained the atypical pneumonia virus in the territory, but 32 more people have fallen victim to the deadly virus. The suspension of accident and emergency services at the Prince of Wales Hospital continues for another week.

The decision came after eight more healthcare personnel there fell sick with atypical pneumonia. This brings the total number struck by the virus to 197.

"We've contained the spread among primary contacts, trying to contain secondary contacts," said Yeoh Eng-kiong, Hong Kong's secretary for health, welfare and food.

China has repeatedly refused to link local cases of the outbreak to its southern Guangdong province. But the World Health Organization says preliminary studies confirm such a connection.

It has been confirmed that children are also victims of the illness.

One school on Hong Kong island had sent a Secondary 2 student to hospital as she showed flu-like symptoms. It was later found that her mother was also sick with atypical pneumonia.

Six students from four other schools have been hospitalized.

In the face of the increasing number of students suspected or confirmed to have contracted the disease, the Education Department has issued guidelines on preventive measures and is updating parents on the situation.

And officials held a briefing to 200 teachers in the territory, reminding them to report any abnormalities.

[CathyRyan]

I saw that too. That spooked me. Half the time I think I am reading to much into this and the rest of the time I am worried. I will not be at ease until I can settle a middle ground.

[twntaipan]

Where are the majority of the deaths, along with the greatest number of infections? Hong Kong. How many of the deaths have been among non-Chinese? (I realize these are not politically correct questions, but they are pertinent).

[riri]

I was wondering the same thing.

[Domestic Church]

"we have about the same numbers that China claimed in three to four months"

Our freedom and mobility are possibly being used as tools to bring us down. Sounds like OBL doesn't it!(But it's not just him if it is being orchestrated.)

[CathyRyan]

Sorry at no time have I seen a report with a break down by ethnicity.

[Domestic Church]

" How many of the deaths have been among non-Chinese? (I realize these are not politically correct questions, but they are pertinent)."

I've been thinking about this too as it would be possible to tailor a virus towards a certain genetic population. Or to choose a particular natural variant but as someone else pointed out this past week, a genetic shift occurring naturally ( and this is a new virus, not nipah/hendra from what I have read) at this point of war is really stretching. Time will tell. The good news is they have documented antibodies.

[CathyRyan]

Hk 173 with 6 deaths,
Vietnam 62 with 2 deaths,
Singapore 34 with no deaths and
Canada 9 with 2 deaths
(the US might have more cases that Canada).

Worldwide 306 with 10 deaths.

[Domestic Church]

I thought US had 15 confirmed cases...correct me if I'm wrong.

[twntaipan]

Can't the deaths in Vietnam and Canada be connected back to people who travelled to HK?

[CathyRyan]

Hong Kong SAR China: 203 / 6**
Viet Nam: 62 / 2
Singapore: 39 / 0
United States: 13 / 0
Canada: 9 / 2
Switzerland: 7 / 0
Taiwan, China: 6 / 0
Thailand: 4 / 0
United Kingdom: 2 / 0
Germany: 1 / 0
Italy: 1 / 0
Republic of Ireland: 1 / 0
Slovenia: 1 / 0
Spain: 1 / 0

Total 350 / 10

[CathyRyan]

The number change it depends on when and who collected them.

[CathyRyan]

As far as I know they can all be traced back to HK and China.

[Mother Abigail]

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