Causative agent of SARS virus isolated from lung tissue - test is reliably identifying cases

Fox News ^ | 03-21-03

[Mother Abigail]

We know what it is it. It is the SARS virus. But, to which virus family it belongs, we don't know yet," he added.

Some researchers believe it is a new type of paramyxovirus, but studies from other labs suggest it may belong to another virus family.

[Mother Abigail]

It has been the most successful antiviral regimen to date against SARS

[Eva]

The good news is actually both, the isolation of the virus allows for the test as well as the possibility of the development of a vaccine. The test allows for better control of contagion until a vaccine can be developed.

[Endeavor]

I'm not sure about your can of Whoop Ass, unless you mean the latest antiviral drugs - and these are incredibly expensive.

I'm interested in the pathophysiology of the disease - getting at turning off the inflammatory response so these people stop dying, and figuring out just how this organism initiates such a dramatic pneumonia. Should be interesting.

[Endeavor]

test and slaughter? we're talking humans, here.

[honway]

http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/transcripts/t030321.htm

DR. GERBERDING: Thank you again for joining us for this update. The CDC MMWR came out today with a good summary of what's going on in the progress of the investigation, but I did want to update you on a few specific points.

First of all, to date WHO is reporting 337 cases of SARS from 14 countries. That is including 10 people who have died from the illness internationally, and in the United States we are aware of 22 reports of SARS that are under investigation in a total of 12 states. We have not had deaths in the United States to this point in time.

Two notable aspects of the investigations ongoing in the United States, first of all, we have identified situations where a case in a traveler may have involved transmission to others in the United States. So first of all, in one cluster, an individual who traveled to Asia may have been the source of infection in two health care workers who provided care, and in the second situation, one person who traveled to Asia may have been the source of infection in a family member. Again I'll stress these are undergoing active investigation, and so we can't confirm that this is the situation, but we wanted to alert you to the fact that spread to contacts of travelers with this illness may be occurring in the United States.

In addition, we're aware that two Americans stayed in the hotel in Kowloon, Hong Kong, that's been implicated as the initial source of most of the spread of this disease. The two Americans were staying on the ninth floor of the hotel, which is the place where almost all of the international cases appeared to have been exposed initially during sometime in February. Those two Americans are here and are included in the 22 cases that I mentioned earlier, and we are continuing to investigate the situation in Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong Health Department is doing a very thorough job of evaluating who was in the hotel and where they are now, and the investigation will evaluate potential modes of spread in that environment. And we look forward to their updates as we go forward.

[vetvetdoug]

You didn't take me series did you? See, you eliminated one method of disease control all by yourself with logic. You asked for disease outbreak control methods and did not specify what was off limits.

[Endeavor]

sorry cutes, I did take you series. My mistake. I'm an equine doc, what are u?

[theFIRMbss]

>Test and slaughter, isolation and quarantine, ring quarantine, or let the virus run its course. Take your pick.

Your list didn't have
"protected status" like AIDS.
Perhaps officials

will deem this "syndrome"
so important that actions
such as quarantines --

which might stamp it out --
would be politically void.
We live in strange times.

[CathyRyan]

New ProMED_Mail UPDATE

http://www.promedmail.org/pls/askus/f?p=2400:1001:168757613447206580::NO::F2400_P1001_BACK_PAGE,F2400_P1001_PUB_MAIL_ID:1000,21041

[Mother Abigail]

With the virus now isolated, scientists in Hong Kong and elsewhere can move forward quickly to characterize the agent, determine its relationship with known viruses, and establish a definitive identity. Results will be shared among 11 leading laboratories in a network set up on Mon 17 Mar 2003 by WHO.

---

My friend I'm sure you realize that antiviral drugs are not the answer.

When Virologists open a can of W.A. it entails looking into the soul of this bug, finding it's soft spot and developing a vaccine that will protect the lives of our friends and loved ones.

There will be some of the best and brightest in this quest...

[Mother Abigail]

Thanks for the post

[Mother Abigail]

Well cowboy do you feel lucky?

You are the reigning prognosticator on this board.

Care to take a stab at:

Family -

Genus -

Species -

---

The virus responsible for SARS is considered by some research groups to be a member of the well-known Paramyxoviridae family. Yesterday, Canadian researchers released findings suggesting that the metapneumovirus, which belongs to this family, may be the cause. The metapneumovirus was first discovered by Dutch scientists in June 2001 at a laboratory that is also included in the new WHO network.

At the time of its discovery, the virus was known to cause respiratory disease in humans, including some cases of pneumonia, but showed a different transmission pattern and was much less severe than the SARS agent. At this point, it cannot be ruled out that an entirely different virus from another family may be responsible for the SARS outbreak.
WHO cautions that the race to identify the SARS causative agent is by no means over. Although the virus has now been isolated, its identity remains elusive. Other research groups in the network of collaborating labs are producing hints that the causative agent may belong to another virus family.

---

Some of you other Ladies and Gentlemen may care to venture into the land of conjecture, please join in...

I am going to stick with my original guess (until proven wrong or humiliated):

Family:Paramyxoviridae

Genus: Henipavirus

Species: Unknown until present - a mutant of the Henipavirus Genus - made a species jump from pigs

[maestro]

What would 'PETA' do?

[Domestic Church]

Good question...I think they might have tried the antivirals though with no success.

[Domestic Church]

That is good news to hear. I thought the known antivirals weren't working.

[Domestic Church]

Maybe it has an autoimmune trigger.

[Mother Abigail]

Yes it is

[Petronski]

Test and slaughter?

I say we take off and nuke the site from orbit. Only way to be sure.

[Mother Abigail]

Broad-spectrum antibiotics have not proven effective.

Intravenous ribavirin and steroids have stabilised the condition of a number of critically ill patients.