Deadly SARS Spreads World-Wide: Death Rate Increases and Doctors Worry About Mutating Virus

NewsPundit.net ^ | 4/18/2003 | Douglas Oliver

[TBall]

Where does one get coloidal silver?

[blam]

"My dream is to retire out to the NM desert Georgia O'Keefe style..."

Develop a good plan and stick with it.

[aristeides]

The guy in Goa, contrary to one report I read yesterday, did really have SARS, they found the coronavirus in him. SARS victim out of hospital. He's now apparently totally recovered, and apparently never was very sick. So there can be mild cases of the disease, which we may now find more of, now that the infectious organism can be identified. However, if memory serves, he's young -- 33, as I recall. Relatively few people that young have died of the disease.

[blam]

"However, if memory serves, he's young -- 33, as I recall. Relatively few people that young have died of the disease."

I think there was one 32 year old Chinese female who died with SARS.

[riri]

So, is that article saying, in effect, that there are people who are infectous but not showing any symptoms. Lovely.

[aristeides]

I believe she was from Amoy Gardens in Hong Kong, and I think it's being speculated that the disease as contracted there (maybe because of the means of transmission, maybe because of a mutation) is more serious.

[aristeides]

The guy in Goa had symptoms, but they were not severe. They suspected SARS because he had just been in Southeast Asia.

[aristeides]

The guy in Goa also seems not to have infected anybody else, including his wife, who was travelling with him.

[riri]

A different link on Goa man.

SARS Patient Discharged

Does this put him in the timeframe of the Amoy Garden's (more virulent) infections? Interesting.

[_Jim]

In light of all this, do you still think it is "logical" to rely on ANY information provided by the government of China?

I think you and others do a very good job looking at only *part* of the picture coupled with an inability to 'mine for facts' even in material of dubious origin (I haven't read *just* people's daily material nor have I excluded it) -

- ancillary to that might be a lack of knowledge as to how cantagion can spread and breed, how reactions by the public in this day and age 'forces' them to treat such threats serious and to begin anew stiffer regimens of 'health' practices thereby effectively reducing the spread of contagion (MANY people on these threads have covered the 'poor personal health practices' by some today - do you really THINK that poor practices could not someday in some region on earth result in the spread of a nasty viral contagion?).

ALL the following factors, such as how fast does this disease spread, how long can it live outside a 'host', what, if any, is the incubation period, what effects it has on person's body are at some stage identifiable and qunatifiable - this isn't some 'magic' illness that spreads by no mechanical interaction between persons, so, this comes down to identifying at least those factors I just spelled out in order to reduce the 'spread' (the coupling from person to person) of this disease.

This isn't magic - it involves science and a LARGE chunk of that involves the application of a lot of logos in finding, reducing, compiling a HUGE number of observations and data into meaningful concepts, 'models' and that clear understanding necessary in order to recommend curative and preventative actions ...

[jetson]

Health food or vitamin stores. A guy by the name of Wayne Green sells kits to make your own. He has a web site. Silver rememedies go back to Egyptian times. Another interesting little tid bit I heard stated that the reason silver eating utensils were so popular was because of their medicinal properties.

[steve86]

I meant to say it filters out particles smaller than 0.1 micron.

I thought you were closer the first time.

But my understanding is that the N95 masks, of which I have procured several models with a unit count in the dozens, filter out particles with a size greater than 0.3 micron. The coronavirus itself is though to have a size of approximately 0.1 micron, which means it would slide through the mask unfettered. But since the virus particle is typically surrounded by sputum, the package will exceed the 0.3 micron size and therefore be filtered. A truly aerosolized, airborne particle would be another matter.

If you elect to purchase masks, consider that hospital staffs are changing them every shift, more often if damaged or made wet. Therefore do not assume that one or two masks will get you through this developing crisis. You will need quite a few.

Also, because sputum-to-eye transmission appears to be a possibility (based on the B.C. nurse situation), you will want to cover your eyes with a goggle of some sort if the situation demands it. I am experimenting by modifying a reasonably good quality dive mask to fit over the N95 mask. This is the type of dive goggle that looks like a heavy-duty pair of safety glasses; not the kind with a big flat face plate. It looks like all I need to do is cut out the nose portion and fit it over the N95 mask. There are other types of goggle, of course, that can be used. I wouldn't use a ski goggle; however, with its abundant built-in ventilation. Yes, condensation will be a problem but I live in the desert. As I see it, the goggles and mask need to be worn only when in the position of possibly being directly exposed to someone who might have the disease (almost any urban situation with people within 25 feet would qualify).

While I'm at it, don't forget the Purell and surgical gloves. They might be the most important safety devices of all for the majority of people.

[Nebullis]

I meant to say it filters out particles smaller than 0.1 micron.

I thought you were closer the first time.

Thank you! LOL.

The mask will filter out almost 100% of .4 micron particles and about 90% of .1 micron particles. However, even aerosols will not contain only one virus. The length of wearing time is important, as you point out. Fluid and oils make the filter less effective. The mask is water resistant to guard against that. It's not a complete guarantee against the coronavirus but it's quite effective.

[sytole]

Don't know if anybody posted this yet but this is the latest at Google. Looks like the case count in China is about to do a big jump.


WHO Officials Expect Higher Number of SARS Cases in China
VOA News
18 Apr 2003, 23:23 UTC


World Health Organization (WHO) experts say they expect the official number of reported SARS cases in China to rise substantially, after the country's new president ordered officials not to hide the true extent of the epidemic.

Friday, President Hu Jintao ordered officials at all levels of government to accurately report on the epidemic and keep the public informed. China's official death toll from the disease is 67, with more than 14-hundred infections. But WHO officials say a much higher number of SARS cases in China, particularly in Beijing, is expected soon when officials issue a new report.

In an online report, Time magazine reported Friday that dozens of SARS patients had been hastily removed from isolation wards in Beijing to deceive WHO officials making inspections in city hospitals.

Also Friday, Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa said his government has not been as aggressive in tracking people who had contact with SARS patients at the outset of the disease. But he promised to step up efforts to fight the illness, and he predicted the situation will soon stabilize.

Hong Kong's death toll from the pneumonia-like illness has risen to at least 69.

At least 170 people have died in six countries and more than 3,500 others are infected in 27 countries since the breakout of the disease about five months ago. SARS is believed to have originated in China.

[blam]

Just as a reference for the micron challenged, a micron is real small, for example a normal human (Caucasian ) hair is about 100 microns in diameter.

When I retired from chip-making, we were routinely printing patterns in the .25 micron range.

[CobaltBlue]

You're right, N95 means airborne pathogen.

The issue I was addressing is whether there are additional means of transmission.

That's why I say, get N95 masks, not just surgical masks. Personally, I purchased for my family N99 masks.

[CobaltBlue]

The Native American experience with smallpox is contrary to your assertion.

Native Americans who lived in nomadic tribes had a MUCH lower death rate from smallpox than those who lived in villages - 30% vs 90%+.

30% isn't very good, but it's far better than 99%.

[Nebullis]

Masks are not really made for virus protection but the coronavirus just happens to be relatively large for a virus so the N95 can be useful. Masks could be made to be more specifically effective for filtrating coronaviruses, i.e. chemicals damaging to the coat proteins could be embedded within the filter material.

[CobaltBlue]

We have a guest bedroom with its own half bathroom. If any member of the family becomes sick, we plan to move him/her into that bedroom so that he/she won't share the same toilet as the rest of the family.

When you think about disinfecting bedding and clothing with bleach water, please consider that chlorine bleach will discolor most colored fabrics. I have my thinking cap on over this issue, and think we should consider purchasing white or light colored clothing and bedding and other linens for all family members.

I am also considering treating all familial cases of severe colds and flu as if they are potential SARS cases.

Admittedly this is too extreme at present, but I am trying to plan ahead.

[Nebullis]

Many viruses are in the nanometer range.